They'd had no money to go out drinking, but it was Harada's idea to gamble for some.

Needless to say, Shinpachi was surprised.

When they finally managed to hit the establishments some time around midnight, the two quickly bid farewell to their senses.

It turned out Harada was also quite fond of dancing.

Eying the the angry red scar across the younger man's belly, Shinpachi decided that either his new friend was a simple man with secrets, or the most complicated person he'd ever had the misfortune to meet.

The next morning, Sanosuke was surprised to wake up in a house (he'd been boarding since he left the barracks) and his head was pounding. He would have laughed if he didn't feel so sick.

Somebody had painted a funny face over his scar.

Shinpachi gleefully burst through the door, already dressed and fully awake, with a bright twinkle in his azure eyes (that weren't bloodshot). He was flushed and sweaty from his routine early morning training, and Sanosuke swore under his breath, pulling his blanket over his head.

Obviously, there was no way in Hell that Nagakura was human.

This happened before either one of them started believing in demons.