"Please don't shut me out." - Hijikata & Kondou

Kondou paused in his midnight walk when he noticed the light flickering from within Hijikata's room. It had been a hard night for all of them.

Kondou sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.

No, hard wan't the word for it. Ordering the murder of someone who used to be a compatriot wasn't something he ever wanted to become comfortable with. It was why he was out walking while the rest of Kyoto lay sleeping, hoping that either the sight of the stars glittering above him, or simply the exertion from walking would tire him enough to let him sleep.

It wasn't right, but it had to be done. Itou had left him no choice in the matter.

Too many men had lost their lives that night because of his mistake. If he had never invited Itou to join them, then all of this might never have happened and Heisuke…

Kondou's hand clenched into a fist, his nails biting painfully into his palm. Even so, the pain was nothing compared to the clamp he felt was crushing his heart.

Heisuke was just a boy… Yes, a man in many respects, but he was still young. Vibrant with all of youth's follies. He had simply been trying to find his way and ended up caught in a storm that had nearly cost him his life. Honestly, it still might. Only time would tell if Heisuke was still himself, or if they would be left an unthinkable responsibility.

As with all the men who had come with him from Edo, Heisuke was more than simply a subordinate. He was a brother-in-arms. He was family.

Kondou slowly unclenched his hand and released a slow breath as he turned his feet in the direction of the flickering light emanating from Hijikata's room.

"Toshi, can I come in?"

"Kondou-san?" Hijikata's voice sounded just as exhausted as he felt. "Of course, come in."

He slid the door open and stepped inside, before carefully closing it behind him. Hijikata was just where Kondou expected to find him. Sitting at his desk, surrounded by papers.

"What are you still doing up?"

Kondou gave a light chuckle as he sat down next to his friend. "I could as you the same thing, Toshi. You've gotten as much sleep as I have."

"Yeah well, these papers aren't going to finish themselves," Hijikata said, as he eyed the stack in front of him. "I swear they're multiplying behind my back."

"Then let me help. Surely there's something amid all of this that I can do. I am the commander of the Shinsengumi."

Hijikata shook his head as he picked his brush back up. "No, you go get some sleep. What will the men think if their commander walks around looking exhausted? I can handle this."

"Toshi," He waited until until Hijikata looked over at him before he continued seriously, "Toshi, please don't shut me out. There is nothing I can do for the men who are injured, and as much as I want to, there is nothing I can do for Heisuke. Either way, I won't be getting much sleep tonight regardless of what I'm doing" To lighten the mood, he added, "Don't force me to make it an order."

Hijikata snorted as he shook his head. "All right, you win." He picked up one of the stacks and handed it over to him, fighting a grin. "Though you might regret it once you start hitting the expense reports."

Kondou returned a grin of his own as he took the papers.

It had been a long, hard night and it wasn't over yet, but things didn't seem quite as grim when he was surrounded by the scent of paper and ink, the warm glow of the candle, and the comforting presence of a friend.