"Finally!" He yawned and stretched his arms out.

A few of the nurses gave him appreciative glances. Today, he was wearing a yellow button up shirt that hugged his torso and black pants. Sanan-san was strict on the dress code. Tōdō Heisuke was one among a few of the popular doctors in the hospital.

Heisuke pulled off his badge and stuffed it in the pocket of his lab coat as he started walking to the locker room.

"Chizuru-san came in with Kondō-sensei earlier. I think they have a special case."

Heisuke's ears perked at the names and he took a few backward steps. "Na," he gave them a small smile. "Did I hear you say that Chizuru is in today?"

"Ah, Tōdō-sensei!" The two nurses gushed. "Yes, I heard from Miko-chan that she and Kondō-san brought in a patient. We saw her go into room 109."

"That's weird…she's supposed to be off for the next two days…" He mumbled to himself. He gave the two nurses a grin and thanked them, striding over to room 109. He found it weird that she would come in, after all, tomorrow was his…anniversary. Since he was going to be off tomorrow, he had planned on accompanying Chizuru to visit him. He couldn't leave her alone.

"Hey, Chizuru!" Heisuke opened the door without knocking. He was a doctor, he didn't need permission to enter a patient's room. "I heard you were in here from one of the nurses. I thought you were off-" His blue-green eyes widened in surprise as he saw the patient on the bed. "S-S-SOUJI?!"

Chizuru quickly pulled him in and shut the door, locking it this time.

Souji's eyes sparkled in amusement as he watched Heisuke try to make a word, but all he kept doing was open his mouth and let out parts of words. "Oooooh~," Souji shook his hands in a way that was reminiscent of a ghost. "I'm here to haunt you for thinking improper thoughts of Chizuru-chan~."

Heisuke choked on air. "I-improper thoughts of Chizuru?! Souji! I have too much respect for Chizuru!" His surprise was replaced by annoyance.

"Souji!" Chizuru chided lightly. "Stop teasing Heisuke-kun like that." The room fell silent and Chizuru clapped a hand over her mouth. "I'm so sorry, Okita-san! I didn't mean to be so familiar with you!"

Souji merely shrugged and grinned slightly. "It seems my guess was correct."

"Anyways," Heisuke took a breath, saving Chizuru from Souji. "Who the hell is this guy that looks exactly like Souji?"

A rushed explanation later from Chizuru, Heisuke had his arms crossed and he was nodding repeatedly.

"You don't get it, do you?" Souji raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Look, Souji, how can anyone believe that you just fell onto Chizuru's living room out of nowhere?!" Heisuke'a blue-green eyes bore into his frame, still trying to find a difference between this Souji and the Souji he had known. So far, he'd found nothing, just the length of his hair. "So, what you were you doing before you mysteriously ended up here?"

Souji sighed and briefly explained what he had been doing at Ikeda Inn.

"So, you were chasing some dude with blond hair that was crazy strong?" Heisuke looked over at Chizuru. There was only one person that matched Souji's description, but he was currently overseas.

"That's what I've been telling you. No one has an explanation for this." Sighing, he swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"I think…it's fate." Chizuru said rather quietly.

"Fate, huh…" Souji mused, shrugging. "Well, whatever it is that brought me here, I'd better get used to it. It doesn't seem likely I'll find a way back."

There was a small part of Chizuru that rejoiced. It was like having her Souji back, as if he'd never really left. Then again, her Souji was gone. That relationship, those dreams and hopes they'd had together…all that was left were her memories, pictures, and video recordings of him. "Heisuke-kun, did you need something? We can talk outside, Okita-san should be getting his rest."

Heisuke nodded. "Right, I'll see you later, Souji." He looked back at him once more before opening the door for Chizuru.

Chizuru turned back to him and gave him a small smile.

—

A nurse had brought by his medicine with written instructions from Kondō-san. After he'd taken it, he wandered around the room after ripping out his IV again. He continued to admire the view outside, wondering how different the world was now, compared to how he knew it.

Souji paced around the room some more before spotting a set of clothes he assumed was for him. Chizuru must have put then there for him.

Even though he was told to rest, he was just too restless to do so. Sleep wouldn't come to him.

His curiosity was eating away at him.

What was future Hijikata-san like?