Disclaimer: I do not own Peacemaker Kurogane.
AN: I will try to get a proper schedule for updates going, I'm sorry I haven't been that frequent. School is top priority right now.
Reunions and Redemption
Chapter 10: Ready
Hijikata hated to admit it, but the brat wasn't as bad as he initially thought. He had been relatively cooperative when Matsumoto examined him earlier.
The man's size alone garnered some respect, if not nervousness, from most men (and adolescents) who met him. But it was his calm demeanor that sealed the deal. Tetsu was not his first patient with issues. Though he was not certified in psychological healthcare, Matsumoto had already noticed several discrepancies in the boy's psyche that Hajime had overlooked. The most obvious was depression, which was understandable considering the boy's past. Or at least the parts of it that Hijikata had made him aware of. The boy himself spoke little to the bear of a man, and had only elaborated on anything when prodded by the demon vice chief. Oh well, once he got the files from the facility, Matsumoto could look into matters more. Bidding the man a proper farewell, Hijikata had taken the kid back to his apartment to wait for his brother.
He fell asleep once they got back. Curled up in ball at the end of the futon, his light breathing even eased Hijikata's tension. As he watched the pup, it was hard not to feel relaxed. The kid looked so peaceful. His red hair was a mess, and the tee shirt he was wearing was several sizes too big. Even so, the inhale and exhale of his small chest made ripples across the sea of fabric. A few stray rays of light had slithered through the blinds, and their caress across his skin gave him an ethereal glow. It was a sight worthy of a haiku, Hijikata mused, as he stood in the kitchen with a cigarette wedged between his lips.
Acting on that train of thought, Hijikata reached under the sink. It was the latest spot he came up with to hide his poetry in that Souji hadn't found.
Speaking of whom, Toshi wondered idly where the slighter man was. Though they didn't share an apartment, the two were inseparable when they were on duty or off together. Last night had been an odd exception, but understandable. However, the younger man had an irritating habit of waking at the crack of dawn, and he seemed to find a morbid pleasure in sharing that joy with Toshi, so where was he this morning?
"HIJIKATA SAN!!" The exclamation was followed by a slam that Toshi knew would require expensive repairs. But those could wait. He knew that voice anywhere, and now he had one more question answered for the day.
He nodded briefly as Souji walked into the apartment, followed closely by Tatsunosuke. From the looks of things, they had been shopping. The only way he had been able to identify Tatsu was from his short, spiky brown hair. The rest of his front was obscured by numerous brightly colored parcels, most bearing Designer Logos. Souji's reliability as a shopping companion would put any woman to shame. And a dent in anyone's wallet.
Shoving that thought to the side, Toshi kept silent, his gaze moving instinctively to the brat. The noise would have woken any normal person up, but Tetsu remained in slumber, only shifting a little closer into the back of the futon. Hijikata sighed; the kid must've been worse for the wear even before he arrived. How did Tatsu plan on taking care of him now? All those boxes contained were articles of clothing. Sure, the kid needed something to wear, but that was surprisingly low on the list of priorities concerning his care at this juncture. What the kid really needed was stability, and reassurance; someone to be there for him when he needed it most who wouldn't turn away. Watching with mild amusement as Tatsu began to fret over the said whelp, Toshi walked over to Souji, bringing his hands to his hips.
"Seems a bit much for such a little whelp."
"It cost half of Tatsu's savings. But it should last for a while. We got everything…shoes, underwear, jackets…I can't wait to see his face when he wakes up!"
"Mm, hope it's later rather than sooner. Kid's a wreck, been asleep since eight."
Sighing, Souji leaned back, slightly deflated. He had always loved kids, and had been elated upon meeting the younger Ichimura. Seeing the boy passed out had worried him. All he had told Tatsu when they left was that Tetsu had fallen asleep in the car. He knew hearing about his little brother's condition would only worry him more. He had retained his usual cheery disposition at the department store as they argued over what to get the kid, and Tatsu seemed happier than Souji had seen him in while. Maybe he was ready this time around.