Summary: One night makes all the difference for Hijkata when he lies on the
line of death and life with a broken heart.
Warnings: YAOI, Takasugi x Hijikata , Gintoki x Hijikata.
Disclaimer: All characters owned by Sorachi Hideaki.
Beta-ed by: Lumi75, Thanks for all your help and support.
TOSHY-BOY & TAKASUGI.
"People are more willing to go much further to get rid of what they are afraid of than to get what they crave." -Dan Brown
...Right?
Night had fallen over Edo town, leaving a deep feeling of dread over the streets. A certain sort of people who avoided the day, now crawled out from hiding, taking advantage of the period to do illegal acts. Feral animals sniffed through trash cans, hoping to find food to live another day. You could clearly hear the cats hissing and the dogs growling as they bared their teeth and claws to scare their opponent away from their new-found treasure. It is slightly disturbing, but nonetheless fascinating, to think that there are people in the world who work the same way. Of course, when it comes to people, it is not food we fight over...
Hijikata Toshiro's head throbbed painfully as he walked down said street, feeling lonely. He pressed his right hand to the side of his head, trying to still his version which, from to time to time, would spin around. A typical symptom for someone who's had too much to drink. But he didn't care, maybe because his thoughts were too busy thinking about a special person.
Sakata Gintoki.
Hearing the name hurt him hellishly. A cool breeze passed him, stroking his flushed cheeks and made his blue kimono flutter off the ground...
** ** **
30 minutes ago...
"I want you to join the Shinsengumi," the words were sudden, and would have thrown over the most restrained man, even Hijikata was surprised by his own bluntness. But Gin, who sat beside him, drinking lazily from a glass of sake, simply looked over blankly, seemingly not affected in the slightest.
They were in a little bar that was owned by a blonde lady, Hijikata was too drunk to remember her name but he remembered enough to know that he had crossed paths with her another time when the Shinsengumi were after Katsura. The bar was nearly empty, except for a couple of old men who played poker, when they really should be at home instead of making their waiting wives worry. They would scream a series of swear words once in a while when someone lost. Hijikata wished that some old man would lose right now, breaking the uncomfortable silence that lay over Gin and him.
Hijikata's body acted on its own, making him bite his under lip as his hand squeezed his knee. He was suddenly very tense.
Finally Gin drawled. "Did you say something-hiccup-Hijikata-kun?"
"I-I have always admired you…" confessed black haired man in a trembling, low voice, the words just flowing out of his mouth on its own will. He didn't know where all the courage came from but guessed that it was all the sake he had. Even if the start of confession was a little clumsy and definitely not at the right moment, he just hoped that the other would understand his feelings and, if he's lucky, return them.
"And I..,"
Hijikata gulped, trying say the words he had dreamed for a long time to tell the man beside him. And now he had the chance, Gintoki's attention was all on him, only him, which was good but still made him a little nervous. Hijikata opened his mouth, the words were on his tongue, he tried to force them out.
"And I l-lo- "
Gin chuckled, interrupting him. He peered his rusty red eyes at the Vice-Commander with a funny look while holding his chin in his hand. "Are you joking with me, Toshi?" Gin chuckled again, thinking that it all was just that, a joke. "As if I would want to be in the Shinsengumi-hiccup-I mean, just look at you for example," he pointed at Hijikata. "Do you think I want to be like you? Some dog of the state?" he waved his hand dismissively. "Tch. Give me a break Toshi."
The black haired stared, his mouth slight agape, at Gin, who had gone back to his drink like nothing happened. A strange feeling crawled in his chest, resembling to a sort of heart disease. What is this feeling? He leaned forward slowly, his black hair creating a shadow over his eyes. Am I not good enough for him? Am I too ugly? Is it my work? But if it wasn't for the Shinsengumi I would never have met Sakata in the first place. I don't understand what's wrong with me?! The grasp on his knees hardened, his nails sank into his flesh. The pain made him feel better, everything was better than the feeling of being rejected so harshly and he didn't even know why.
Unexpectedly, Gin laid his large hand on his shoulder. Hijikata jerked, surprised by the touch, but Gin didn't move it. The warmth of the hand spread like a wild fire through Hijikata's body, burning him, waking a lot of desires in him, so many that he felt sick to his stomach and even warmer in the face. The freelancer raised an eyebrow at the other man's suddenly weird behaviour and blushing cheeks. Does he have a fever or something? thought Gin, his eyes searching the other one, "Oi, are you al-"
"Whoohoo! I won!" one of the men in the bar, a fat, bald one, leapt from his chair in happiness, laughed loudly and punched up in the air like some brat. "HAHA! How does it feel motherfuckers?!" Gintoki's attention went over to the older men. He turned his head in their direction and watched the older man doing a wining dance on the table and the blonde woman behind the bar screaming at him.
His hand slid off Hijikata's right shoulder, in what Hijikata felt like a painfully slow sensation. The warmth left a trail over his clothes, probably never to return...
'Hurry!' thought Hijikata, biting his lip as all his senses kept intense focus on the other man's hand. A part of him wanted to suddenly grab Gintoki, taking grasp of his chin and kiss him deeply, while the other side of Hijikata, the more jumpy and desperate one, just wanted the hand away from him.
Crazy thoughts added to his over emotional state and made him want to act recklessly, the alcohol in his system didn't help either. His own hands on his knees had now become balls, his breathing was now harder too, although still through the nose. 'Just take away that hand, already!'
"...Stop touching me!" he slapped away Gin's hand, like a mother scolding her child for trying to take a bit of cake before dinner. "Your hand is sweaty, don't use me as a towel, bastard," Hijikata was surprised that he made his voice sound so calm, when he felt like total wreck inside.
Gin blinked when his red, glossy eyes turned back to his company for the night. He tilted his head a little to his right, making his silver hair shine with the light from the lamp. God, did it did make him more appealing, at the same time looking more out of reach than ever.
"Eh? What's with you now?-Hiccup!- Hitting me right of the blue?" Gin cockily raised his eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.
Hijikata snarled back, fighting the urge to spit at the samurai for being such an ass. But suddenly Gin flashed a goofy grin, stopping Hijikata in the act, and leaned forward, so much so that their noses nearly met. "Or is little Toshi afraid of a friendly touch?" He teased, and gave a low mechanical laugh. "Afraid of germs are you, Toshy-boy?"
"I told you..." growled Hijikata, glaring daggers at Gin as his own, pale hand unconsciously covered the place on his right arm that Gin last touched. He couldn't help the nervous feeling he had from the closeness they were sharing. "Stop calling me Toshi, damn it!"
"And who the hell is Toshy-boy?!"
** ** **
Hijikata had left the bar right after that, his drunken mind knowing at least that much; if stayed there any longer he would go nuts. He had such a strong craving for a cigarette, but to his utter disgust, in his hurry to leave the bar, he had left his pack there together with his sword.
"I'm such an idiot," he muttered to himself, trying to fill the silence around him. Hijikata rather liked the quiet streets, it made him more calm and collected. His thoughts turned back to Gintoki once again, wondering what he was doing now that he had left him. 'Was he with a woman? Was he going to remember all that he said tonight when he is sober? How would he act next time he saw him?' Hijikata had many question but no answers. Maybe if he would had stayed with Gin he would at least know some of the answers.
Now that he thought about it, he felt kind of lonely and hungry. The lonely part he couldn't do anything about right now, the Shinsengumi HQ being a good stretch away but he did know of a fast food cart a few steps away, he could drown his sadness with a quick snack and go to bed later, hoping that the hangover won't be too bad tomorrow. Or else Kondou-san will be displeased and Shougo, the sadist, will annoy him all day long, telling him how no-good he is. Hijikata didn't need that after this night, his self-confidence was already down to zero.
Hijikata took a short cut to the fast food cart under a deserted stone bridge, he would be forced to dirty his sandals, but it was a pretty big chance that he river air would do him some good. That's what he needed, sobering up. At this thought he gulped, running to the nearest trash can but was surprised and then relieved when nothing came. He was sure that he would actually vomit, if there was anything to vomit, that is. He had not eaten anything all day; he didn't have breakfast, did not feel for lunch, and had no time for dinner. No wonder he was hungry.
The sand under his feet was so soggy that Hijikatas sandals sunk, and for every step he took he was forced to drag another heavily up from the sand. Even though it was night, near the end of summer you could still see outlines clearly, so he had no problem avoiding the many rocks spread over the waterside. He continued, lifting his leg high with every step, Hijikata was glad that no one saw him at the moment, he must look ridiculous!
Suddenly it all went wrong. Hijikata had lifted his knee a little to high and fast, ruining his already bad balance. He waved his arms faster than two helicopter blades, trying not to not fall backwards. It worked, perhaps a little too well, because the sudden movement and the panic he felt made him more unsteady than before.
He tipped forward, the weight of his own body betraying him to gravity, and he fell face first in the sand. This would clearly dirty his kimono, and not only that, he himself too. "Damn it," muttered Hijikata angrily, clutching the sand hard in his hand, feeling so embarrassed that he was sure that he could hear someone snickering.
"Stupid imagination," Hijikata stretched open his fingers and push to get up on his feet again.
"Ohmp," he fell down to the sand again, something hard had thumped him down on the back, surprising him. Hijikata could feel the sand entering his mouth. Bleh! He gagged on reflex and tried not to suffocate.
The thing, that Hijikata now realized was a sandal, pressed him down again without mercy. Hijikata gasped and accidentally swallowed some sand. Softly laughter could be heard over him, and it was no mistaking it who the person laughed at.
Hijikata growled, his first thought being that Shougo was mocking him while he was in his weak state. He turned his head to the side, prepared to scream at the captain. "SHOUGO! WHAT THE HELL-!" he stopped mid sentence, his eyes going wide when he saw a man that defiantly was not Shougo.
This man had black, thin hair, a bandage over his left eye and a colorful kimono that reached to the heels. A shadow seemed to naturally hide his face but Hijikata could clearly see who it was, even if he never seen him in person have he heard enough descriptions from terrified witness in his days to recognize him.
"T-Takasugi Shinsuke..." the words were whispered but Hijikata was sure that the criminal had heard him. His mouth felt dry, and he knew that it had nothing to do with the remainder of sand that was left in his mouth.
Takasugi leaned over Hijikata, adding the weight of his arm over the leg which was still planted on the other man back. "Good evening, Shinsengumi Vice-Commander," the smile grew to a sick grin, an early warning that an amateur might not have caught. Lucky for him, Hijikata wasn't an amateur, he understood well enough that something was about to happen. He leapt in panic, knowing that he would be killed in an instant if he stayed in that position.
Takasugi drew his sword in a fast move, aiming for the black haired man's neck to make the kill quick. Hijikata just managed to escape at the last second by rolling away from the samurai. Still, he was too late, and a deep pain shot through his shoulder, cutting his kimono and flesh under. A high yelp left his throat when the sharp blade hit him. But in the moment he didn't care about it, all his mind could think about was to get away from the crazy beast.
When Hijikata had rolled a good distance from the other he stood to his feet, unsteady, and a hand reached immediately to his right arm. Ironically was the place he had been cut the same that Gintokis hand had touched earlier...Hijikata shoved the memory aside, this was not the time to think about it!
Takasugi simply smiled, his sword leaving a deep cut in the sand, exactly at the place Hijikata's head was a moment ago. A red, thick substance dripped down his sword tip, creating a pool of it in the sand, blood. Takasugi saw how it dripped from his sword with the same expression.
His foot, that had been on the Vice-Commander's back, had sank back to the ground, the man wiggled his toes a little trying to pull it up. He looked up to Hijikata, a more amused smile on his face. "Has no one ever told you that it's dangerous to walk alone at night?" He chuckled menacingly. His voice was naturally deep, but it was also hoarse at the same time, suggesting that the bandaged-eyed man hadn't spoken in more then a day. "Especially, when you're drunk. It's like begging to be attacked."
"Humph. You w-would have thought that there would be no psychos left on the streets that dared to attack a S-Shinsengumi," Hijikata's voice trembled, but his face still showed courage. One good thing about alcohol, it made him more confident, one bad thing, it lowered his fighting skills a lot. He knew that if he didn't figure out a way to get away he would soon be killed, the biggest reason being that he didn't have his sword. He could not fight with Takasugi and Takasugi knew it.
Warm blood ran out of the wound, leaking through his fingers, coursing down his arm, and finally going down to the ground. Hijikata quickly ripped of a piece of his blue kimono, trying to stop the bleeding.
Takasugi silently observed the man when he treated his wound, hearing the small, little whines he would let lose when the pain become too much. Very rare for a man to be so...squeaky. A thoughtful expression appeared on Takasugi's face, his index finger seating under his lip.
Hijikata noticed how his opponent seemed to be lost in thought about who the hell knows what, all he saw, however, was a chance to escape. So, without thinking before acting, a thing that Hijikata never would do in a normal case, he started to run as fast he could. In his rush he lost his sandal, which he was happy for. 'They slow me down anyway!' The wind he thought was so refreshing before now became painful, the cold air kept cutting through his right arm even though it was blocked by a thin cloth.
He begged god that the criminal wouldn't freak out over his absence, being satisfied with the damage he caused for tonight, and crawl back to the hole he come from. When Hijikata ran under the stone bridge and wondered if he was safe, he felt a bony hand grasp the back of his collar, pulling him back.
Hijikata gasped in surprise but a scream tore out of his throat when a sword cut him on his ankle, deeper than the last one. "This will teach you not to run from me."
Hijikata's underlip shivered from the pain, he felt new blood ran down his leg, this time at a faster pace. Suddenly circled an arm around his shoulder and another grabbed the back of his knees, all this went very fast but Hijikata managed to turn his head around, meeting Takasugi's evil green eyes right on. "Oi, what are you doing! Let go-!"
Takasugi, ignoring the other, had lifted Hijikata from the ground in bridal style, a move that required obvious strength since the other man was at least as heavy as him. Hijikata struggled in his grasp, yelping every time his cuts would come in contact with the other, as it did pretty often. Takasugi laughed a little, finding the whole scene very amusing and the other even a little cute with his constantly flushed cheeks. He decided that he liked the noises that the demon Vice-Commander occasionally gave out, and wanted to hear more...
Takasugi's fun, however, ended abruptly when Hijikata got his left arm lose, tightly grasping Takasugi's black hair, angrily making eye contact with him. Takasugi met the blue eyes calmly, searching them. The man was a little out of breath from the run and the struggling but his fighting spirit was as good as ever.
Takasugi decided that he liked that, it made the whole thing more interesting in his point of view.
"Let go. Now," said Takasugi quietly, but it was clearly an order.
Hijikata kept glaring at him, he tugged hard at Takasugi's hair, a rebellious move that stated that he would never submit. "Go to hell," he spat, very confident now when he had Takasugi in his grasp. "You let go of me or I will tear your hair off your skull,"
Takasugi could do nothing now when he held him, and he must let him go if Hijikata would let go of his hair, either way he has to let him go. An astonishingly idea from someone that was drunk, it made Takasugi even more interested just to know how high intelligence the other man had.
Unexpectedly, Takasugi snickered, his laugh drained all of Hijikata's courage, and unconsciously made him lose a little of his grip on Takasugi's hair. "Oi, didn't you hear me?!" Hijikata had gone back to struggling, this time keeping his wounds out of harm way. "Let go of me you deaf bastard!"
In next second Takasugi threw Hijikata high in the air, he flew, screaming, through the space until--
SPLASH!
The water was surprisingly cold and Hijikata felt his body heat disappear fast, he couldn't fight off this overwhelming coldness. He had landed on his butt, his legs spread in front of him and his hands supporting him, Takasugi hadn't thrown him too far into the river and lucky enough he reached the bottom without trouble. Still, the cold salt water stung against his wound, especially on his ankle.
Takasugi green eye glinted as he followed the small strand of red blood that leaked into the blue water. His fixated upon its source. "I thought you needed a little bath, am I right? To clear your head. Or is the water too cold?" It was meant as a rhetorical question, merely said to tease the other man. It was a long time ago that he teased someone so naturally.
Of course Hijikata took it more seriously. He punched he water, making drops of water fly, just to rain partly over him. "You really are dumb! Not only deaf but an imagination freak too! Have I said anything about a bath? No. Then don't make up things by yourself you retard or else I will make you regret the day you were born!" he roared at the top of his lungs, even if the other man was just a couple of feet away, and really had no hearing difficulties.
The Shinsengumi Vice-Captain, did, strangely enough seem more attractive than dangerous in Takasugi's view when he screamed in rage. You would think that he was a man of control, but in reality he lost any sort of cool when you pushed his buttons the right way. It interested Takasugi in his younger days how people tended to change by his presence, how his voice could turn the most of social of people to betray their friends, to work only for him, and made the most hopeless cases abandon their thoughts of suicide to spend the rest of their lives under his command.
But this….
Takasugi studied the furious Hijikata openly, this case reminded him of one special bitch he met long ago. In his teenage days. She worked for some club somewhere, whatever, but the thing was that every time a man tried get close to her, hoping for a little chat and to end it with a fuck, would she always become raving mad, screaming in a high voice that hurt your ear and at her worst she would throw things.
Without a word, Takasugi went directly over to her to talk, even as the other men retreated from her, muttering 'crazy bitch'. Takasugi begun to chat softly with her, receiving answers soon and after just five minutes she was stuck to him, starting to seduce him like any other horny slut.
He lost his interest in her just like that. It would seem that the girl was no real crazy bitch. She just acted that way to play hard to get, no other reason.
It was one of the things that Takasugi didn't like about girls, they were so weak and frail, born for the role as bottom, both mentally and physically. They would cry too, and be irritating for no reason.
That was probably why he preferred men...
Takasugi ignored the insults he received from the other man, he didn't, surprisingly, care about being called freak or any other word. This was a little odd, as he always had a quick temper when it concerned his honour. He couldn't tolerate even the slightest bit of disrespect. But when the Shinsengumi abused him, it was far more fun and arousing, like provoking some kid or animal, and having the knowledge that the other could do nothing to stop him...hopeless….
Takasugi smirked when he observed his prey, he was still sitting in the water, glaring. The black, natural thick hair had escaped the wetness, just small drips of water from when he hit the water, they glimmered faintly, like small stars. It had a beautiful contrast to his pale skin and the intense blue eyes.
He was obviously angry, so much that he didn't care for his wounds, although they must certainly hurt. But the interesting part was his waist and legs, noted Takasugi, he couldn't look away once his eyes set there. The kimono robe was, of course, a little wet and torn, but it showed up the pale, thin (accidentally) open legs nicely.
"Oi! Where are you looking, you ugly bastard!" screamed Hijikata suddenly, closing his legs and pulling the kimono around him more, blocking the view and with it snapping Takasugi rudely awake from his train of thought. He blinked. It seemed, thought Takasugi feeling a little bitter and disappointed, that the Vice-Commander wasn't so much like the whore from that time, after all. He honestly didn't know if this was good or bad.
Hijikata scrowled at him, showing in every way possible that he was angry and ready for a fight, hoping that it would keep Takasugi at distance til anyone would come and help him. Not a fat chance that it would work but it was the only plan he could come up with though his persistent headache. Still, he didn't understand why the man had studied him such a long time and at such improbable places.
"You know," Takasugi said with some humor in his face, seeing how the man in the water kept a watchful eye on him. "I just realized that this is the first time I have seen a Shinsengumi wear anything other than that tight costume, I am astonished that I recognized you without it." Hijikata stared at the criminal, he frowned, wondering if that was the reason Takasugi had looked at him. Just because of my clothes?
Takasugi laughed shortly, his eyes lighting up, and he started to advance, taking the first step in the cold water without hesitation. "Actually, I think I like this on you much… better." his voice became lower and scarier by every word. Hijikata's eyes widened, and the panic begun to grow, he began to back away. "Wait, stop," he raised his hurt hand, trying to stall, but Takasugi kept going, his lips curling up.
Hijikata stopped backing off, feeling water flood into his nostrils, a sudden feeling of drowning overcame him. But when he tried to get up he slipped, blue water jumping and glittering in air.
He swallowed some water in the clumsy fall, but that was the smallest problem, something was definitely wrong with his legs.
Takasugi, amused by the others panic and confusion, suppressed a deep chuckle. Instead he tilted his head to the side, playing innocent."Is something wrong, Vice-Commander-kun?"
"Shut up!" snapped Hijikata. "What the hell did you do, Takasugi?" Under the water warped he his hands around his powerless bare feet, he couldn't feel the touch on either of them, 'Numb? How did it..."
"Ahh, I see that you noticed," said Takasugi smugly, his pale hand sneaking inside of his colorful kimono, bringing out a small vial. A small empty vial. "Kukuku~ Its paralyzing substance of the first class, bought straight from the black market," he waved his hand carelessly, rolling his eye that wasn't covered behind the bandage. "I have never been good at measuring the fluid to match the weight, so I poured the whole damn thing on my sword when I cut you that last time, though, I expected you to find it out earlier. I did, after all tell you 'That this would teach you to never run away from me again'."
"You talk to much," Hijikata eyed the vial in the others grasp, seemed very skeptical, "How do I know that it really was that paralyzing thing you said, how do I know for sure that it really-!"
"Don't be stupid," Takasugis tone went up a couple of levels, he turned up his nose and stared with a smile of superiority down at the other man. "If I wanted you dead you would be dead..." he trailed off, stretching the hand out and grasping the front of Hijikatas kimono, nails tearing softy in the flesh- When did he got so close?! -Takasugi pulled harshly, dragging him over to the sandbank.
Hijikata had no choice but to be dragged, even if he tried to get loose had he no chance to get away anyway. The paralyzing substance had spread through his body, crawling up his legs, rendering them wholly lame. It had only been around five minutes, at the longest since Takasugi cut him in his ankle. But he had no real knowledge of how long this poison would stay in his system. What a pain, thought Hijikata annoyed, for a second forgetting everything around him and his current state of danger.
However, it all came back to him when Takasugi threw him roughly at the stone pillar of the bridge, pinning him there with his own body. Hijikata grunted, the air going out of him in the sudden press between the cold pillar and Takasugi. A shiver ran through his spine by the freezing feeling on his back, making him hiss and close his eyes hard.
Perhaps it all will disappear...the childish notion flashed through his mind.
The rebel grinned when he felt the shudder. "Vice-Commander-Kun?" Takasugi sang playfully and clapped Hijikatas right cheek, trying to get a reaction out of the now motionless Shinsengumi. Maybe I gave him a overdose?wondered Takasugi briefly, examining the face in front of him. He does look a little pale...
"Vice-Commander-Kun?" he tried again, "Open your eyes, wakey, wakey."
Hijikata opened his eyes, frowning at the man who was practically in his face, breathing on his mouth, the sharp eye drilled into him. Is there no escaping this guy? he turned his face away with the his best of abilities, slouching his body over the pillar to put some distance between them.
"Aww, is Vice-Commander-Kun angry at me…" cooed Takasugi in a baby voice, leaning forward and laying his head on the others shoulder, cozying up to the warmth, "You are really a pleasant pillow," he laced his fingers lightly through Hijikata's palm and pinned it beside Hijikata's head. His available arm circled around Hijikata's waist tightly, reminding of a child with its teddy-bear.
Hijikata didn't comment at his sudden position, even if his grimaced a little, he knew better then to open his mouth. If I just ignore him maybe he will find it boring and go away, he's obviously just playing around. But Hijikata still couldn't help flinching at his position.
"You...," mumbled the villain, "Maybe you could quit the Shinsengumi and be my personal pillow 24/7? " He smiled softy, "I promise to take care of you, Vice-Commander-kun."
When Hijikata kept being silent Takasugi's hand began rubbing soothing circles against his back. "Hey...Why are you ignoring me, Vice-Commander-kun?" his voice took a sudden turn, sounding more sad and lonely, as if Hijikata was the bad guy that was at fault.
"..."
Hijikata swallowed, but other than that he gave no reaction to the rebel's sweet words, Now I understand why so many people ally with this guy, thought Hijikata, a persistent, unexplainable feeling of guilt resting in his stomach, refusing to go away.
"I know what you doing," stated Takasugi smoothly. "And it won't work, I will not leave you alone however much you keep giving me the cold shoulder," he begun to become impatient with this. "In the end I will just force you to acknowledge my presence..." his lips nuzzled against the neck, making it wet with saliva and then bit down savagely.
Hijikata jerked sharply against the body pressing his to the stone pillar, a harsh choke drawing out into a groan as Takasugi's sharp teeth cut him. His hand, sealed to the pillar flew out with new power, reflexes afire to remove the reason for the pain. But Takasugi's hand harshly thrust it back against the pillar, breaking some bones in a snap while he was at it.
Hijikata screamed, body trembling violently by all the sudden pain. Takasugi continued, the desired reaction urged him on, his lips started to like the wound it created, tasting him. His other arm that was warped around Hijikata waist crawled up, grasping the thick hair and tugged, forced Hijikata to lift his chin. Takasugi took a lot of pleasure from all the new places on the Shinsengumi that now became available.
Hijikata panted, breathing faster, "Get off me, you sick bastard," he ordered, wishing nothing more than to kick the rebel to oblivion. Instead his legs gave way under him, his muscles melted out of his control and he slowly slided down the pillar.
"Kukuku~, take it easy, Vice-Commander-Kun," Takasugi let go of Hijikata's hair to help lift him up, his hand sneaking a little lower and squeezing his butt. Hijikata jerked, caught off guard by the move. He glared, still a little out of breath after the pervert's 'attack' on him. The 'pervert' only smirked back at him, telling him clearly, 'It is a useless idea to try, because you can do nothing against me anyway. And I know that you know it.'
He drew back enough to study the Shinsengumi in his grasp. "Tsk, Tsk, look at you, Vice-Commander-kun, what will I do with you?"
"Leaving me the hell alone would be a good start." grumbled Hijikata as an answer, he didn't dare to raise his voice, afraid that it would make Takasugi do more sadistic stuff to him. But still he couldn't resist telling the bastard to back off, showing him that he clearly didn't want this.
"I am hurt, Vice-Commander-kun, do you really thinks so?" he pretended to be shocked by the words, and Hijikata wouldn't be surprised if he would dramatically clutch his heart and begin quoting some sappy line. "I think that-"
"OI! TOSHI, ARE YOU HERE?! OI! TOSHY-BOY!"
Both Takasugi and Hijikata froze, eyes going wide, bodies tensing when they heard the familiar voice. It was no mistaking it. No one had a deep and, in the same time, unmotivated voice as that person.
"Gin..." whispered Hijikata, in a voice so low that it didn't reach his own ears. He blinked repeatedly. What is he doing here?
"What the hell is he doing here?" swore Takasugi unamused, echoing the Shinsengumi's unspoken thought. His grasp tightened and he chewed his lip furiously, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"TOSHY-BOY~!"
It came noticeably closer than before, just a couple of feet away, twenty at the most. Hijikata started to struggle, his back scraping against the hard surface when he tried to flee. Takasugi, as if coming to some decision, acted immediately.
He punched the blue eyed samurai hard in the face with his free fist, breaking his underlip. He felt better when he saw the red blood gush from the wound.
Hijikata froze, hissing sharply. He hadn't expected Takasugi to hit him now, he would have thought that he would let him go, run or attack Gintoki. "Let me go, I haven't-"
"Silence!" Takasugi's tone was cold and intense, "Just listen to me, okay." It was obviously no request. It was an order. "This is not over, don't you ever even think that this is over." The green, narrowed eye stared through his blue eyes, straight into his soul, "Understood?"
Hijikata did not respond, so Takasugi squeezed Hijikatas broken hand for emphasis, loving the suppressed noise he received. Footstep could be heard in the background, the stress making Takasugi even more excited, he cupped Hijikata's chin and suddenly bringing their mouths together. He was not surprised by the Shisengumi resisting his kiss, and to make him stop squirming he squeezed the hand even harder. Takasugi remarked that the lips were soft and gentle, and he enjoyed sucking at the bloody underlip, tasting it.
When they broke apart, Hijikatata's support disappeared like the wind and he found himself tumbling helplessly to the ground. "Ummph!" he attempted to slow his fall with his arms, yet an unbearable pain attacked in two places; his broken hand and the wounded arm...the arm that Gin had...speaking of - where the hell is Gin?
Speaking of the devil.
Gintoki appeared, he had probably located him through the noise from his fall, a little to late in Hijikatas opinion, why the hell couldn't he hear Takasugi's threatening voice earlier? Gin walked up to Hijikata, looking down at him with a raised eyebrow. Hijikata frowned in disbelief when he observed the disheveled silver hair and the clouded red eyes that seemed to not have any trace of intelligence left. Typical of the bastard, he's still drunk.
It was just about a hour since the two of them sat in the bar, drinking sake and, how, as Gin saw it, having fun. What could have happened to him in an hour? Wonder if it has anything to do with how strange he acted before? Has he economic trouble of some kind, owing money? Or maybe he got on somebody's bad side from his duties at work?The last one seemed most trustworthy of them. Even more when Gin personally knew how many enemies the Shinsengumi had.
What mess have he got himself in now?Gin looked concerned, he made eye contact with black haired man. Hijikata soon broke it, turning his face away in the dirt, shamefully.
"What do you want?" The speak was muffled, obviously because of the broken lip the man bore, for Gin was pretty sure by the others face that it was not the way he wanted the word to come out.
Gintoki blinked, slowly, still a little out of his senses. "What I want...?" he echoed, seemed to seriously consider this. It was silent, the only sound being weak shifting from the ground when Hijikatas body moved, testing his legs to see if they still were numb. They were.
As Gintoki thought over the 'hard' question he received, Hijikata tried discreetly to get up on his feet. His arms, bloody and dirty, trembled as he forced them to move. He let out a breath that he didn't know that he was holding, giving up for the moment when he realized that it was impossible.
He sighed, feeling explainable tired . "Forget it," said he finally, he didn't want Gintoki to get brain melt. "Well," he yawned, "how long did you stay at the bar?" he gazed to the side, remembering his earlier thoughts this night. "...Meet some nice girl?"
"What are you talking about...-Hiccup!-" Gin scratched his silver hair, irritated on himself and seemed to glare down at his stomach, as saying that it was his fault. "Stupid hiccups, never stops."
Hijiktata giggled quietly, he thought the scene was comical for some strange reason. 'He is really one of a million, that guy.' His eyelids felt heavier now.
Gintoki couldn't believe his ears, did Hijikata just...giggle? He shook his head, and regretted it when he soon felt dizzy. He must be more drunk than I thought.He turned half around, wanted to get home, "Come on, Toshy-boy, get up. Time to go home."
He expected to see Hijikata pass him immediately, shooting off some smart-assed comment that would be the spark of a new argument between them. Hopefully would it keep them occupied all the way home on foot, because Gin couldn't risk sending them home on his bike. Especially since the Shinsengumi guy he happened to accompany, would, at any flimsy excuse he could find, personally turn him over in the blink of the eye.
Gintokis eyebrow twitched, eh, he hated to wait more! Why was he waiting on arrogant bastards like Hijikata?! He turned around, his boots digging in the earth surface and glared down on the person that refused to leave his thoughts. He was one second from roaring, ranting and, if it come to the worse, throwing a tantrum. He stopped himself just as the words were about to leave his mouth-
Toshy-Boy had fallen asleep!
Perfect.
Just-freaking-perfect! Gin couldn't believe it, he didn'twant to believe it, but he couldn't deny it. Forget going home, together or not – now he had no choice but physically drag the Shinsengumi home. Ahhh! So annoying! He pointed at the black haired man, throwing the blame on him. "This is the last time I baby sit you, never again, got it?"
He got no answer, just soft puffs from the still body, fuuuu, the lungs blowing up...and down...up... and down...Gin sighed, resting his forehead against his hand, rubbing his temple. Exhaling, he tried to call up some muscle power and-
"Hiccup!-Ahh! What's with today, everyone's picking a fight with me?!" he glowered down at his stomach, demanding the organ to stop betraying him with some stupid hiccup. Not surprisingly since Gin left his stomach without food for such long periods, not his fault that he didn't have much money.
Feeling like an idiot for talking to his own stomach, Gin's eyes went over to Hijikata's sleeping form at the ground. He guessed that he couldn't escape taking responsibility for Toshy-boy. I mean, he even forgot his sword and cigarettes in the bar after he got drunk, geez, and then landed into this mess. I am surprised that the Shinsengumi let their Vice-Commander go to the bar without a bodyguard.
He bent down, sat on his knees and casually grasped Hijikata's hands. To his shock the sleeping man suddenly flinched and jerked away. The freelancer lost his balance, swinging and nearly falling atop Hijikata. Nearly being the keyword. He furrowed his eyebrows irritated, could the damn Shinsengumi just let him help him already?! He reached after the hands again, this time determined not to let go, when he heard a muffled mumble.
"...It hurts..".
"Huh?" Gin blinked, astonished, never had he known that the Shinsengumi demonic Vice-Commander could actually could feel pain, much less express it. Wow.
Gin whistled mockingly, the alcohol still in effect. "You turn more human day after day, Toshi". But looking down at the bloody man with torn, wet clothes and you would rather think that he turned more dead second by second.
"..."
Okay, scary thought.
Deciding that he had wasted enough time as it was, he grasped Hijikata's kimono, knowing that he couldn't touch his hand for whatever reason, and lifted him up onto his two feet.
Gin inspected the man's legs with a veteran's eyes, he should still have the ability to walk, if anything, on a single foot even if one ankle is cut. He was just on his way to release his kimono, "So, come on, Toshy-Boy, time to let go and..." Gin trailed off when he felt two pale arms circle around his neck. Hijikata's feet gave way, he was holding on him with all his weight on Gin's neck. He could feel his wet body gliding on his own, searching to be nearer to the warmth the other body provided. Hijikata draped an arm over his shoulder and put his face close to his ear, telling him to please not let go of him. As if in emphasis, he held tighter to Gin's neck, blood leaked out of the roughly bandaged wound on his arm, and the metallic smell of blood became more intense.
Gin hurriedly grasped harder onto Hijikata's clothes, turned around so that his back supported the Shinsengumi. The pain in his broken hand increased when Gin brushed it, but Hijikata managed to stifle any complaints when Gin hauled him up piggy-back style.
He lolled like a doll on Gin's back, seemingly more relaxed now. From the narrow opening of his eyes he could see Gin's big hands holding up his entire weight by the hollow of his knees. Oh, how he wished that he could feel the hands... directly touching his skin.
Without the Shinsengumi's notice Gin had begun to walk, leaving the stone bridge and with it all of Hijikata's recent bad memories. He snorted, grumbling to himself. "I bet you were born just to make life harder for me, aren't you, Toshy-Boy?"
No reply come, and Gin didn't expect one since Hijikata obviously wasn't in his best form to argue back at. At least they had something in common, because Gin didn't feel like arguing either, it was too tiresome and all the shouting they always did would just make their headaches all the worse. No, for the moment there were only two things that Gin wanted, the first would be a hangover tablet and the other was to know who did this to Hijikata. It was definitely some cowardly bastard, only daring to attack when there was no one around, Hijikata was already drunk and he had no sword…Grrr… Gin knew he wouldn't be able to tolerate it if one of his closest friends died again.
I have had enough of it.
"Tell me," Gin sounded determined, he hauled Hijikata a little higher on his back. He had started gliding down on his back during his thinking session. "Tell me who did this."
"Why do you want to know?" answered Hijikata with a question, obviously suspicious of the others motive behind the question. And had the right to be, you never know with Sakata Gintoki.
"Because I care." Hijikata would have snorted if his lip wasn't broken. Who knew that Gin was so full off bullshit.
Yeah right, you just want to be a hero. A big-fucking-hero that you always play. Always saving the day. But I will not accept it, he clutched his fist angrily, and narrowed his eyes. I will not let you treat me as a one of those weak people, I will not accept being seen as a burden!
"Liar," spat Hijikata, he didn't want to hear such caring words now when he had begun to accept his loneliness, knowing that he would live forever by himself, and no one else. He clutched desperately to the hatred he felt for the man so he would not get hurt again. Reminding himself over and over again that the silver haired man didn't want to have him in his life. And most certainly did not want to be a part of his life with the Shinsengumi.
Wetness welled up, collecting in the corner of his baby blue eyes. He wanted nothing more than to throw himself on his cold bed, that would never feel the warmth of his companion's body or love. Hoping that the coldness would envelop his heart, hardening it into a stone and making it unable to love ever again.
In the Shinsengumi quarters he would live forever, lying in said cold bed and there, for just this night, cry alone in the darkness.
Because that was what he was destined to be. Alone.
The water overflowed in Hijikata's eyes, but he just let one tear pass, feeling how it slid down his cheek first slowly and then faster. Losing its grasp on his skin and falling down, landing on Gin's exposed neck.
Gin felt the sudden wetness on his neck, he shivered a little when it slipped down his spine. A cold and stubborn drop of water that didn't know when to be absorbed by the clothes. He looked up at the sky, there were no clouds in sight, not even a white one. Weird, I could have sworn that something wet fell on me…
"Oi, Toshy-Boy, have you seen the weather channel lately?"
Meanwhile, unknown to the two men, a figure in a flowery kimono stood observing them from a distance. He licked his finger tips slowly. Vice-Commander-Kun's or, rather Toshy-Boy'sblood tasted sweet, he wanted more. What he didn't expect was the Shiroyasha himself to block his way…
Kukuku…sweet, very sweet.
To be continued…
Nearly all men can stand misfortune, but if you really want to test a man character, give him power.
-Abraham Lincoln.