4

"Oi, wake up you jerk" Hijikata kicked his former comrade lightly in the stomach to get him off of his floor. Sougo didn't budge, and continued to snore loudly.

The chief huffed and proceeded towards the table where he kept his paperwork. He thought he might as well get some work done while there still were some peace and quiet to be had.

*click* a bomb went off.

"Ah, you're still alive Hijikata-san" Sougo said casually, turning over to look at his victim. "I thought I would surely get you this time." He yawned loudly into his hand and moved himself into a sitting position, leaning his back against the wall.

Hijikata had gotten used to these shenanigans and didn't bother to scold him anymore. He just smoothed out his dark afro without saying a word.

After he had put back his hair in its proper, neat place, he stood up and walked over to the sliding doors leading out to the gardens. He opened with great gusto, in order to let the smoke escape the room, replacing it with the fresh evening air. He went back to his table and picked up a piece of paper to study its contents.

His brows furrowed while reading the first paragraph. He swiftly gave up, and crumpled the document in his hand, tossing it aside. He took a cigarette out of his pocket, and lit it with some matches he had laying on the table. "I saw that you have brought that China brat home with you," Hijikata said and exhaled. "She here for a play-date or what?"

Sougo shrugged his shoulders while looking at Hijikata emotionlessly, making the latter sigh. "You're both so childish… "Why did you bring her here then? Don't the two you kind of hate each other? Or might this be the payback of a debt you owe to a dead man?"

The flaxen-haired man broke his nonchalant expression and gave him a sourly look, "so what if I am?"

Hijikata was too tired to challenge the younger man right now. Instead he just nodded at his own thoughts and put out the cigarette in the ashtray on the table. He knew there must have been something more to it. It wasn't in the natural sadist's nature to take in stray cats without a reason; especially if said stray cat would get into violent fights with him.

He gave in to his curiosity; he needed to know if Sougo did it for him. He sighed again before he spoke, "and why are you doing it for that silver-haired dumbass?"

"Tch" Sougo turned away before Hijikata could lock eyes with him. He looked out on to the evening sky. In a distant voice he spoke: "He helped me protect what was precious to me once. So I should at least help out his exotic pet and her monstrous dog". Sougo said it in an unaffected tone, but they both knew that he couldn't think about Mitsbua without cringing on the inside.

"Then it'll be your responsibility to feed her," Hijikata said curtly. "The Shinsengumi doesn't have enough money to keep that kind of glutton satisfied."

"Sure sure, I'll give the piggy plenty of food." He rose from the floor and scratched his head lightly. "I'll be going to the hospital now," he announced.

Hijikata nodded knowingly, "say hello for me would you?"

"No, I don't want to ruin anyone's day like that," Sougo said as he left. "Good night. I'll kill you tomorrow Hijikata-san"

"It's 'SEE' you tomorrow' you bastard," the Shinsengumi chief yelled after him.

Sougo walked back to his room, he wanted to have a drink, or five, before he left.

Walking down the hallway, he did something he usually wouldn't do. He contemplated his best course of action.

This situation wasn't something he could solve with a sword in someone's back. It was much more complicated than that. Should he tell her? What should he tell her, how should he tell her? All these questions danced around in his head, but none of them seemed to have a satisfying resolution.

He decided to postpone the issue to a later time. This was something for future Sougo to worry about. The present Sougo was tired after a long they, and he wasn't in the mood to comfort someone, especially if that someone where to cry. The only thing he wanted to do was sleep, but he knew that wasn't something present Sougo had the means to do.

When he reached his room, he rubbed the drowsiness out of his eyes and sighed. He put his hand on the handle, "she's too predictable," he mumbled. He opened the door in one quick movement, expertly sidestepping a fly kick aimed at his face.

"Ouch" China said as her foot went straight past him, and straight into the hallway wall. Capturing her like she was in a bear trap.

'Serves her right' he thought and continued in to his room. He poured himself a cup of saké, and drank it in one gulp. "Would you like some?" he offered the redhead who were still struggling to free her right leg. Amusing as the sight was, Sougo turned his back to her, and walked out to his patio. Sake bottle in one hand, two cups in the other.

She joined him minutes later, after she had finally freed herself.

They sat on his porch, drinking in silence and watching the stars in stillness.

The bottle was almost empty when the red-haired girl broke the silence "I heard everything you and the mayora talked about" She took a large sip of her saké.

"I know." He noticed the fleeting expression of surprise making its way across her face. "You're not as stealthy as you think," he continued briskly. "It's a wonder that you're still alive after all these years."

She clicked her tongue. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop," she said, a little flushed. She paused and tried to take another sip, hoping to gain some more courage. She emptied her cup, and Sougo refilled it for her.

She took another sip before she explained herself. "I was just taking Sadaharu for an evening stroll through the gardens. Then I heard the two of you talking about me..."

It didn't really matter to him that she had heard their conversation, but he let her say what she wanted anyway.

"I couldn't resist," was the ending to her justification.

Sougo smirked a little. She was still such a child. "It doesn't matter," he said, trying not to seem affected by her. Talking like this… he knew he had to tell her the truth.

"And I'm not Gin-chans pet." She exclaimed and folded her arms defiantly.

"Sure sure," he answered, deep in thought.

She punched him in the arm, hoping to lead him back to her plain of existence. "Hey, are you even listening to me you brat!?"

China was still as impatient as ever. With the added effect of the saké on top of that, it didn't take long before she had Sougo's scarf in her hands, choking him as punishment for ignoring her. She loosened her grip when she saw the raw look in his eyes.

His usual cold glare was something of the past. The present look was worried, burdened by carrying too much on his own.

"What's wrong?" she let go of his scarf, taking a mental note to kill him for that pet comment later.

Sougo rubbed his neck. She had really put some effort into it. "Go get yourself some warmer clothes." He said and drank the last of the bottle's content. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve "I'm taking you to the hospital"

China tensed up "Is that a threat?" Her eyes had widened by his sudden shift in character, "You're not making any sense"

"I'm not putting you in the hospital you dumbass, I have to show you something there." He said calmly. "Hurry and go get dressed, we don't have all night!"