A/N: My first Hakouoki fanfic! TinyTora worked very hard on this, yes she did, but she may have spelled some words incorrectly. Gomen ne!

Since the holidays are closing in, think of this as a Christmas present! Hopefully you'll like it ;w; Please let me know what you think~

The wintry air of the evening was turning frigid as the sun began to sink below the horizon. Nothing stirred outside in the darkening light as snow fell silently onto the frozen earth. Hijikata was immersed in his work when he heard soft footsteps approach his room. The visitor stood there for a brief moment before finally calling out to him. It was Saitou...although his voice sounded off.

"Come in," Hijikata lay down his brush and turned to the opening shoji screen. Saitou tentatively stepped inside, sat down, and bowed. "What is it?"

"Fukuchou, I have completed your errand. Do you need anything else from me?" He sniffled after he finished his sentence; clearly something was wrong with him. His face was tinted a cherry blossom pink, and his breathing seemed labored. Did Saitou have a fever? Well, it wouldn't be a surprise in this cold weather. The other soldiers had started dropping like flies with fever over this past week. And now it seemed that it was being passed on to the higher-ups of the Shinsengumi. "Fukuchou, is something the matter?"

"What?" He snapped to attention. "Oh, no. It's just that you look feverish."

"Fukuchou, you need not concern yourself with me. I am fin-" a fit of barking coughs broke Saitou's sentence.

"Saitou, you don't look fine to me. Get some rest before this illness of yours gets any worse. I'll talk to Heisuke about covering your patrol tonight."

The left-handed samurai looked at his vice-commander with pleading eyes. "But Fukuchou, it is my duty to-"

"It is your duty, first and foremost, to stay healthy. At least take a nap."

"Fukuchou," Saitou began sternly, "it is not fair that I should take a nap while you and the other captains are hard at work. Let me help you."

Hijikata sighed laboriously and pinched the bridge of his nose. There was no reasoning with this one, now was there? Even if he ordered Saitou to his room, it was doubtful that he would even stay there. Well, he could always have Saitou stay here..."All right, Saitou, if you are so keen on working, then stay here and help me."

"Understood, Fukuchou. What is it that you would like me to do?"

"Grind some more ink for me if you will," Hijikata handed the necessary materials over to his assistant, and Saitou went to work quickly and efficiently. For several minutes there was nothing but the quiet sound of the ink stick being ground until a raspy cough shattered the silence. Hijikata paused for several moments, listening to the strained wheezes that escaped Saitou's lips. "Saitou," he finally called out firmly.

"Yes."

"Go lie down," Hijikata stood up to go fetch a blanket for Saitou, ignoring any protests that the young man made. "I'll go brew some tea for you. Be good." He slid open the shoji screen and walked out.

When Hijikata returned, he found Saitou leaning against the wall, his heading bobbing up and down as sleep tugged at his tired eyes. Stifling a chortle, the vice commander carefully placed the tray of tea on the floor next to the drowsy young man and sat beside him. "You say you're feeling fine and yet you're half-asleep," he scoffed lightly. A jumbled murmur came from Saitou as his head dipped down, but then startled, he jolted back up. "Tea?" Hijikata asked plainly as he poured a cup. "There's dango too if you're hungry." He had come across Chizuru while preparing the tea, and she had offered him some leftover dango that she had bought on an earlier outing. Though it was too embarrassing for him to say aloud, he thought she was a kindhearted girl.

"...dango?" His thoughts were interrupted suddenly when he saw Saitou reach for the dango. He took a contemplative bit and then continued to eat slowly.

"You like dango?"

"Mm," was the simple reply he got. Once done with the treat, Saitou reached for the blanket Hijikata had set aside for him and swaddled himself in it. Obviously content with where he was—or rather he was too tired to care anymore—he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. A slight smile creased Hijikata's lips, but it soon disappeared when he saw the piles of papers waiting on his desk. There was still much left to do...

But then again he should be allowed to take a break every once in a while, shouldn't he?

Suddenly he felt a wight press against his shoulder: Saitou had fallen to his side while sleeping. Should he move him? Hijikata found himself staring at Saitou. With cheeks now flushed a rosy red and tendrils of indigo locks strewn about his pale features, Saitou looked as though he should not be disturbed. He needed to sleep. Hijikata adjusted his position and carefully let Saitou's head rest on his lap, thinking it would be a bit more comfortable for him. Without thinking, he laid his hand on Saitou's face, his thumb unconsciously stroking the young man's cheek.

Dark eyes fluttered open from the touch, and before long Hijikata found himself staring down at inquisitive blue eyes. His hand retracted immediately. "Sorry," he managed to stammer. W-What just happened?! Why did he even do that—agh, it was too embarrassing to think about. Hijikata swiftly evaded any possible questions about his action by posing his own, "Saitou, why don't you go back to your own room?"

Saitou drew out a long breath. "...I must stay with Hijikata-san...what if I am needed?"

Hijikata released an exasperated sigh, "Saitou I swear—you need to rest."

Another jumbled murmur was his reply. "...but you've done so much for me...I cannot repay you enough...so I must keep working...for you." The left-handed warrior drifted off once more.

A faint, but almost melancholic, chortle left his mouth like a sigh. Again Hijikata lay a tender hand on Saitou and stroked his doll-like face. "Baka, you've done enough...you've done more than enough. Sleep well."

Fin

A/N: There, finished: I hope you liked it :3 Maybe I'll write more fics like this—those two are just so darn cute together! And again, let me know what you think~ I want to hear from you~