Chapter 2

His eyes flickered open to the rays of sunlight from the window. How long has it been since he saw the sun? He couldn't remember.

"Ugh..." He winced from the pain that shot through his body as he tried to sit up, and fell back against the soft pillow.

He looked around and observed the surroundings. It was a strange, unfamiliar room, he was in an unfamiliar bed wrapped up in bandages, and his clothes were nowhere to be found. And so were his weapons. His gun, ammunition, and sword which he kept on him at all times were all missing. The last thing he remembered was the fight with them in the back alleys before he passed out. What happened to them? He tried to recall, but his head started hurting.

As if on cue, the door swung open and a young boy with short brown hair stepped in.

"Oh! You're awake!" He held up a box of medical supplies. "I'm here to change your bandages."

He struggled to sit up again, and the boy made a panicked face while waving his hands around.

"H-Hey! Just stay there, you're not in the condition to move around yet!"

"I can...do it myself." He glanced at the medical box that was now placed on the table.

"I'm not as good as Sannan-san, but it's not like I don't know how to do it, alright?" He sighed.

The man on the bed kept quiet and still when the boy moved closer to undo the old bandages on his body. It was painful, but bearable.

"What's your name? I'm Heisuke Toudou. Feel free to call me Heisuke, since we look about the same age anyway." He seemed carefree, but very friendly.

He stared at the boy for a moment, contemplating, before speaking.

"Saito Hajime." He replied.

Judging by how things looked, this boy, or his comrades, must have picked him up from the streets after finding him unconscious. He had yet to find out who they were or what they wanted.

"Hajime-kun, then!" Heisuke grinned and put on the new bandages for him.

"Thank you for taking care of me, I apologize for the inconvenience." He lowered his head in apology. Undoubtedly, he would have died if they hadn't taken him in.

"E-Ehh? Well, it's no big deal." He rubbed the back of his head nervously and laughed. "Oh, right, your clothes were all bloody so we washed them. It's in the drawer over there."

Heisuke walked over and took out a stack of clean clothes from the drawer, placing it on the bed beside the injured man. He said nothing of his weapons, and Saito did not ask. It was not the right time. Besides, if they saw his weapons and took them away without making much of a fuss, they were probably no ordinary citizens.

"How long have I been out?"

"It's been three days since then. I was really surprised when Hijikata-san brought you back! Ah, that's right, now that you're awake I need to go tell him. Wait here; I'll go bring you something to eat too!" He finished with the last of the bandages and ran out of the room.

"...Hijikata?" Saito repeated the name Heisuke had mentioned. It sounded strangely familiar, but he just couldn't figure out why.

/

A few minutes later, it wasn't Heisuke who came in, but Hijikata himself. Saito strained himself to get up again, but Hijikata placed a hand on his shoulder, urging him to stay on the bed.

"Don't get up." His voice was firm and assertive.

He had brought with him a glass of water and a bowl of porridge, of which Heisuke had forcefully demanded he bring to Saito. Though that was what he intended to do in the first place, whether or not Heisuke had requested so. Being unconscious for three days does make a man hungry.

"Here, drink some first." He held the glass to Saito's lips, tilting it gently as he drank.

"Thank you." Saito's gratitude was stiff and formal. Yet the gaze fixated on Hijikata was curious and questioning, expecting his savior to explain how he ended up here.

"What, forget the formality already, we've finally reunited after all these years, and you show me this face?" He chuckled. "I guess that's just stuck in your personality, huh."

Saito couldn't comprehend what he was talking about. Reunited? He was pretty sure this was the first time they've met. Had Hijikata mistaken him for someone else?

"Pardon me, sir. Have we been associated before?"

"Oi Saito, are you pulling a joke on me? That's new." He had a genuinely amused face, but it soon disappeared when Saito's expression did not change.

"I apologize. I don't believe I've met you before."

That was it. Did I make a mistake? Hijikata's brows were furrowed, deep in thought. Just now, it really seemed like they were on different pages in a story. He thought he knew the man, but by the way things are looking, he probably got the wrong guy.

"Saito...Hajime." He mouthed his name silently. That was one name he'd never forget.

A man with the exact same name and strikingly similar appearance to the person he'd been searching for years had appeared before him. Is something like that even possible? He looked into the distance. But it's been quite long after all... He started doubting the accuracy of his memory of Saito's appearance.

That aside, Kondo and Sannan joined in shortly after their small talk to interrogate him just as planned, when Saito had just been brought in.

The time to decide whether he lives or dies.

/

"Yakuza...?" Saito mumbled, after a few questions about the fight he was involved in, and who attacked him or which yakuza group he was from. So that's what they thought...

He shook his head. "I'm not from the yakuza." He paused for a moment, thinking of a way to explain his identity. "I'm a freelance mercenary." That was the best thing he could think of at the moment. That was quite accurate, since he didn't belong to any organisation, and sold his services to anyone who would hire him, after all.

"I see...since it's like that, you have no longer have a use for us." Sannan mumbled.

"Don't say such scary things, Sannan-san." Hijikata shook his head and sighed.

"I'm against killing an innocent civilian as well, but it'd be troublesome if he leaks out our secrets." Sannan explained his opinion and folded his arms.

Hijikata felt a drop of sweat roll down the side of his face, and considered the best options to take. Sure, Sannan had a point, but for some reason he just couldn't give the order to kill the man. Perhaps it was because of his resemblance to the Saito he knew, or it might be simply because of his soft-heartedness.

"I'll keep him." Hijikata said, after a moment of awkward silence.

"Toshi?" Kondo was surprised, and so was Sannan.

"He's a mercenary, isn't he? I'll take him under me." He told them.

Hijikata could feel the opposing stances within his mind snarl at each other.

That's a stupid thing to do. Taking him in will bring unnecessary trouble.

I cannot just allow Saito to be thrown out in this condition.

He's not even the guy you're looking for, don't just pity him 'cuz they look alike.

I made the decision to bring him back. This is my responsibility.

"Ah! So that's how it is. We can trust him with you then, Toshi!" Kondo gave him a pat on the back, let out a hearty laugh, and walked out of the room.

"I see." Sannan gave a nod, with a smile on his face that looked like he understood everything. "Well then, good luck, Hijikata-kun."