All canon characters © Sorachi Hideaki

School Projects...

Chapter 1

School Projects...don't make sense in the beginning

For an assignment, the young students from the temple school were to spend the whole day with the Shinsengumi, of course there are always some students who refused to participate. The small group of children walked over to the Shinsengumi HQ to find that the three highest ranking officers were waiting for the children.

"I am the Commander of Shinsengumi, Kondo Isao" Isao yelled in his commander voice greeting the group of children.

"Vice-commander Hijikata Toshiro" Toshiro added trying to keep his temper down, last time this had happened, the children had rudely put down his job as an officer and keeper of the law before running away. The Vice-commander was sure his superior remembered as well but played it cool, resisting the urge to bring out his cigarette.

"First Division, Okita Sougo" Sougo introduced himself as he started to walk towards the children before pretending to slip and slapping Toshiro's face.

"OI! What was that for?!" Toshiro growled holding his reddening cheek.

"Sorry, sorry, it was an accident" then Sougo turned to the children. "Don't get Hijikata-san mad now or else he'll grill you over a fire and eat you" Sougo warned. The children looked to Toshiro with unmasked fear in their eyes. Even Isao turned to look at his second-in-command.

"Don't lie to them you idiot sadist!" Toshiro growled, his hands had locked themselves on Sougo's neck and was squeezing tightly.

"L-look kids, see how violent he is" Sougo pointed to the hands on his neck as he deadpanned. Toshiro immediately stopped, mentally cursing at himself for letting the younger officer to get under his skin. "Kondo-san, I think we should keep our rabid dog on a leash" Sougo suggested bringing out a metal chain and a dog collar.

"Good idea Sougo, come on Toshi, it'll keep the kids at rest" Isao pleaded when he saw the fear not leaving the children's eyes.

Toshiro backed away slightly, he had also noticed this and sighed "I'm taking it off the second the children leave" Toshiro agreed and felt a collar go around his neck.

- Kacha -

"Kacha?" Toshiro asked and looked down seeing a large padlock keeping the collar closed. Sougo held out the golden key before the vice-commander, a sadistically evil grin upon his features. Toshiro paled, he had allowed Sougo to win and screamed silently when Sougo tossed the key over the fence.

"Oops I lost the key" Sougo said innocently.

"Sougo!" Toshiro growled, his temper was starting to sky rocket when a hand patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry about that Toshi" Isao started "We can just cut the collar off later"

"Kondo-san" Toshiro smiled.

"Now turn around three times and bark" Isao finished.

Toshiro burned with anger this time. "Kondo-san..." Toshiro was about to speak when he was interrupted.

"The kids have to see that you're harmless" Isao added not wanting Toshiro to blow up in front of the kids.

"Yeah, now go, turn around three times, bark and run over there to the tree" Sougo ordered.

"OI! Who said you could order me around? And you added another command!" Toshiro yelled but stopped when he remembered the children. Swallowing his humongous pride the vice-commander turned around three times before giving a bark "Wan" and running over to the tree a dozen or so meters away. As he was running he wondered what Sougo was up to. When he reached the tree he turned to look at the group by the gate when he noticed Sougo with his bazooka aimed right for him.

"Bye bye, Hijikata-san" Sougo smirked when he saw the the look in Toshiro's eyes before pulling the trigger.

"Sougo! What was that for?!" Isao asked not moving from his spot to see if Toshiro was even alive.

"Don't worry Kondo-san, the dog was being bad so I put him down, may he sleep, forever" Sougo smiled innocently. The children wondered how such a man could even hold the title as the first division captain when his evil intentions to kill his superior was so obvious.

"Sougo, I know you're trying to help the children but going as far as harming Toshi..." Isao continued in a mumble. Then the children knew why Sougo could get away with his murder attempts, it was because his commander was an idiot.

"Sougo!" Toshiro had survived the blast and was running towards Sougo with bloody murder in his eyes before one of the children tripped him. Toshiro looked up spitting sand and dust from his mouth.

"Let's have our tour" Isao started as he ushered the children towards the main courtyard.