On his way home Hijikata spotted a billboard out of the corner of his eye, it was advertising one thing or another, using a genie as a mascot. He didn't think much of it but when he got home he found that he was still thinking about it.
The male sat down in a chair and leaned back as he remembered the stories from when he was a kid, of genies granting wishes, and how everyone would say what they would wish for if they had the chance. He could never think of anything that he wanted, until now…
"Just one more day…" He said softly as his eyes closed, feeling tears roll down his cheek. He opened his eyes after a minute and turned his head to look at the picture he still hung over the fireplace.
It was of him and a younger male, holding their two children as they kissed, looking at the picture made a small smile form on his lips.
"That's all I want…" He said as he recalled a day almost 10 years ago, it was then that he had watched as his lover took his final breaths. Feeling more tears fall Hijikata wiped them away before sighing as he stood up from the chair.
He went to bed and fell asleep almost immediately. That night he dreamt of a time many years ago, when he had been truly happy.
He was sitting on a picnic blanket in the park, his lover seated on his lap as they watched the kids playing. He smiled and held the man as he kissed him. 'I love you…' He said softly as he kept the other close. It felt so real and yet he somehow knew that it couldn't last. As they watched the sunset together their children joined them and everything slowly began to fade.
The next morning he woke up slowly and frowned, remembering the dream. "I guess in the end, one day isn't enough… It never will be." He said to himself while looking over at the empty spot in his bed.
He sat up and ran his fingers through his hair before getting changed and picking up the flower at the door as he left.
Upon arriving at the graveyard he noticed that someone else was sitting in front of the two small graves. It was a young man in his mid 20s.
"I still feel like they're here sometimes." He said softly when he heard the other approaching, as he pulled his knees to his chest.
The elder mans eyes softened as he looked at the other and he ruffled his hair slightly. "So do I…" He told him softly before laying down the flowers. He sighed and placed his hand on the headstone before standing.
He soon stood as well and hugged him, gripping the others clothing as he felt tears run down his face. Hijikata was surprised at first but hugged back as he remember that the young male had barely been a boy of 14 when he lost his father, and his sister had passed less than 2 years later.
"I'm sorry…" He said softly as he felt tears run down his own cheeks, wishing that he could have done more to protect a child that young from how cruel the world could really be for just a little longer.