Chapter Text
Hijikata was never a fan of cold nights. It generally consisted of an eerie silence and wind that nipped at his skin for hours on end. It reminded him of the days he lived with no one by his side. It was chilling … and lonely. The forest floor was damp with the residue from earlier rainfall which had turned the dirt path into a muddy pool, and with every step, there followed a splash that notified anyone within the vicinity of his position.
Yet the Shinsengumi Vice-Chief couldn’t bring himself to care, not when his body was wracked with an indescribable amount of pain and he could barely bring himself to wiggle his right fingertips, where a sense of numbness was beginning to settle.
A haggered breath escaped as he slammed himself against a tree, just a few meters off the trade route in an attempt to catch his breath. The shouts of Joui rebels rang out from the path. They were eagerly searching for his position, which wasn’t unexpected considering what he’d stolen from their dwelling. What he hadn’t planned was being so badly injured this early into his mission.
Fingers tightened around his injured limb. He would need to get it checked soon, or else he wasn’t sure if he’d have it by tomorrow. There, at the connection of his shoulder a deep wound was dug with the blade of a rebel jumping him in his attempt to escape. He still felt the cold steel as it struck him with unwavering precision.
“Where did he go?” A burly voice broke out from the men clambering through the brush. “Split up and find him, we need those documents and his head!”
It looks like rest would have to wait, if he’d stayed any longer, they were bound to find him eventually and he had no intention of finding out his fate after that.
As the men began to scatter through the forest grounds, Hijikata stepped through the forest, crouched as low as his body would allow as his unaffected hand patted his chest pocket, where the documents those men spoke of lie.
It was as the vice chief approached the forest’s edge that an excruciating pain shot out from his right ankle and climbed up the affected leg. It was as if a brand had come scorching up in a linear direction, his entire body shaking in agony as he descended to the dirt floor. A gasp escaped his lips, his hand reaching out for any source of salvation.
His exhaustion quickly spread throughout, causing even his vision to fade to black. All he could see as the tunnel of blackness narrowed were the shadows of people surrounding him. All he could recall before blacking out was the subtle scent of tobacco.
Hijikata’s head greeted him with a dull pain spreading from the crown, down to his ears. He could hardly comprehend the bed he lay on as he propped himself onto his elbows, his left hand nursing the ache in his head that only increased with the action.
“Hijikata Toshirou.” A low voice cut through his thoughts, causing the Vice Chief’s head to snap towards the source. “I’m glad we were able to get to you as quickly as we had, if not, I’m not sure just how much of you would have been left to save.”
Usually those words were supposed to invoke a sense of relief, but instead they’d sent a shiver down his spine. There was nothing kind about words infused with mockery. As his eyes searched the face of the man next to him. Beneath the candlelight next to him, those emerald hues lacked the warmth of any caregiver. Instead, there lies a man waiting. Patient, graceful, yet ever scheming.
Hiding in the shadows of the night, youthful features were carved by the light flickering from a nearby flame. A jaw etched with careful precision, and following it upward he’d catch the bandage wrapping over his left eye. Plum colored locks draped over the left side of his face, carefully framing the remainder of his features.
This is the first time he’s ever seen the face of the renowned Kiheitai leader, and he’d say it matched the image eye-witnesses have provided to him, the most prominent being Gintoki’s, save for the extra fluff regarding how annoying and insufferable he was in his youth.
A scoff escaped Hijikata’s lips.
“I’m surprised you didn’t leave me out there for the wolves.” He rebuked. A weak response, yet he found pride in the fact his voice didn’t falter. If it weren’t for the fact he was seated atop a bed, he was certain his entire body would have fallen over due to fatigue alone. “It would have benefited your group to have one less power preventing your uprising, wouldn’t it?”
His assumption prompted a laugh from the man beside him, a kiseru soon brought to the mysterious man’s lips. He took in a puff, exhaling it only a few seconds later, aimlessly watching the smoke as it dispersed. That explained the scent of tobacco Hijikata smelled before passing out. What he wouldn’t do to get his hands on a cigarette right now …
“Are you questioning our act of generosity?” A smug expression rested upon Takasugi’s lips, teasing. The sight caused a chill to run up Hijikata’s spine. It simply didn’t look right, especially with how the candlelight only enhanced that inkling of mirth, like a cat watching a mouse squirming beneath its paw. Hijikata wasn’t a fool, even though it was only Takasugi with him in this room, they weren’t alone. He was in a horrid state, and even if he was somehow able to shake the Kiheitai leader off, his lackeys were waiting on the other side of that door. They had him cornered.
“Don’t worry yourself, I’m not going to turn on you. Not when I have such an important role for you to play.” He hated the cool composure he kept when speaking to him, yet he doubted he looked intimidating by any angle. And yet … his blood couldn’t help but boil hearing Takasugi’s words.
“An important role?” He hissed, shooting a stern glare towards the other. “What makes you think I would ever listen to your terms?”
“You’re in no position to decline.” Takasugi rebuked, twirling the wooden accessory between his fingers. “As of now, you’re at the mercy of the Kiheitai, and even if you went back to the Bakufu … “ Silence lingered between the two before a scroll was revealed beneath the Joui leader’s hakkake. It was at that moment that Hijikata realized the weight upon his chest was lighter than it was when he was escaping the Joui. Takasugi must have taken the information he gathered while he was unconscious.
“You would be returning empty handed.”
Hijikata growled, a string of curses lying on the tip of his tongue, yet another’s hand raised implying there was more that needed to be said. “This is a pact that could benefit the both of us, Hijikata. I don’t intend on stopping you from investigating this group … in fact, it’s in my best interest that you do.”
Without a word, the scroll slid towards Hijikata in offering, yet there was an air of hesitation. His fingers paused … sky blue hues searching the other man’s face for any sign of deceit. Yet, much to his surprise, and concern, there was none.
He took the scroll with a tentative hand, carefully inspecting the piece for any sign of tampering. “Why would the Kiheitai want me to investigate their own people?” Hijikata questioned, turning his gaze to the man before him, his voice not betraying the curiosity that swelled within his stomach.
“Let's not go into details.” Clearly Takasugi wasn’t going to give in that easily, returning his hand to the sleeve of his yukata. “All I can reassure you is that we both want the same results to come out of this investigation. If you need further convincing … for the time being, I can promise you that my men will not interfere in any of the Shinsengumi’s work and will provide any knowledge we have of that group during the time of your cooperation.”
Hijikata withheld a scoff, wrinkling his nose instead and turning his head to the side, breaking any sort of eye contact they held moments prior. He was faced with a tempting offer … almost enough to make him agree on the spot. The Kiheitai has always been a particularly troublesome group for the Shinsengumi to get their hands on. Though they wouldn’t be out of the picture permanently, this would give the Shinsengumi enough time to direct their efforts to other matters that are considered more immediate. And to be given an additional pair of eyes to keep informed about their movement? It would save him the lives of many men … maybe even his own.
“They say that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Hijikata’s tongue clicked, taking one final look at the scroll before looking at the man across from him. “What’s the catch? You can’t possibly expect me to agree on empty promises.”
“But these aren’t empty promises I assure you.” Takasugi leaned forward, his lips curling into something far more cynical. “I told no lies regarding the fact that we both want the same outcome regarding this particular group. If you so desperately need there to be a catch … You will guarantee that no matter what you find in their possession, I will be the one who gets their most prized possession.”
The Shinsengumi vice chief couldn’t help the way saliva built in the back of his throat, prompting him to swallow thickly. The Kiheitai was one of the last Joui groups he should logically be associating himself with, however at this moment… it seemed like there was no reason not to. It would be a temporary pact, but if they truly shared the same goals regarding the group that hunted him down, then the rest would reveal itself. The Shinsengumi could handle the results that came of this.
There was only one way he was guaranteed to come out of this forest alive.
“Fine,” Toshiro replied, eyes burning with a newfound purpose. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Takasugi Shinsuke.”