Okita smiled blissfully and leaned back in her comfy new swivel chair while soft jazz music sang through the air. It had been a gift from Nobunaga and Ushiwakamaru so paperwork at Security Central could be more bearable. It was the latest of many additions to her office, which included pictures with friends, hanging plants, one of Serenity's landscape paintings, and a jukebox. Combined with a lack of paperwork, the saber's expression proved she rested on cloud nine.

With a hum, she stood up briefly to smooth her hot pink, spaghetti-strapped sundress with a white sash. She looked at the silent Peacekeeper radio on her otherwise completely empty desk and smiled. A coffee cup with a handful of pens and her fashion magazine were all that 'cluttered' her usually paper-strewn desk. The saber plucked the magazine eagerly, opened it, glimpsed at the clock, and sighed in bliss.

"Nobu Nobu!" The saber lowered her magazine momentarily as one of the Chibi Nobus scampered through her propped-open office door. There was a look of concern on her face, but it quickly reverted to mirth when the little automaton ran around her desk with a stamped folder. Okita giggled as it scurried to one of the filing cabinets so it could store the information properly.

"Nobuh!?" The Peacekeeper Nobu's haori got snagged on the lever of her roller chair, and she gasped with amusement as it faceplanted onto the carpeted floor. Thankfully, the folder didn't spill its contents as the chibi sulked with embarrassment. "…nobuuuuu…"

"Awww… It's okay~!" Okita reassured as she carefully untangled the caught sleeve. The Nobu picked itself up, turned to her properly, and saluted.

As it went about its business, Okita looked up to her doorway just as Gabrielle appeared in her master uniform. She leaned into the doorway, smiled, and waved which, caused Okita to giggle again. The master perked up further, "Oh~! No papers in sight! That's a dream right there!"

"Sure is!" Okita laughed back. She glanced at the clock once more; The morning summonings should have ended half an hour ago. "Did we get a new servant today?"

Gabrielle's smile grew as she nodded with a giggle. Soon enough, she was joined by Anishka who wore her own uniform and warm smile. Okita was about to greet her when the Indian master turned back down the hall and motioned towards the office. The saber quickly fell into curiosity.

That's when Anishka and Gabrielle promptly moved into her office, which provided the new servant to enter the doorway. Okita's eyes widened as the familiar man with unruly black hair crossed his arms with a tiny smirk. He let out a pleased huff, "Ah… We meet again, Okita. I trust you're well?"

Okita's eyes glinted with recognition and glee for the peculiarly dressed man. Under his ebony cape, glimpses of a European dress-shirt could be discerned with his unusual, black overalls. It seemed almost like a bodysuit, and had crimson designs that seemed a touch futuristic. Okita failed to stifle her enthusiasm as the man placed one hand on his hip where an array of white uniform belts, straps, and holsters adorned him. She quickly stood up, dropped the magazine, and clasped her hands together. "Hijikata-san! Hijikata-san, you're actually here!"

"It seems so." He merely nodded and eyed her dress. "Never seen you like this before... You usually carried yourself like one of the men."

Okita grinned happily and nodded while the curious chibi struggled to clamber onto her desk. She gently helped it up. "I still am! I'll always proudly be a Captain of the Shinsengumi!"

"Nobu!" the chibi agreed as it finally stood on her desk with the Peacekeeper Captain's help. The girls giggled at the little chibis antics, but Okita was the first to notice something was off. She watched as Hijikata's ebony eyes slowly turned from calm to incredulous as he glared through the chibi… or more specifically, its familiar haori. It squirmed and quivered under his pressured gaze. "…No…Nobu…?"

Suddenly, his eyes shot to the captain and made her flinch. "OKITA! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?"

"KYAAAAAH!" "NOBUUUUUUH!?"

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Fragment 68: Strength of Fidelity

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

That blue and white haori sang to his soul. Hijikata could always picture it in his mind amidst a sea of slashing blades. Countless determined, proud, happy, and dedicated expressions were carried within its thread. When it came into sight, it struck fear and anxiety into their enemies. The haori was more than just a piece of clothing, but a unifying symbol of the mighty Shisengumi.

It was no wonder he was so offended when a little, clearly unworthy caricature was wearing it.

Despite his feelings, Hijikata's glare had softened. Even if she screamed in surprise, Okita did not cower, but she did cradle the scared chibi in her arms. She remained standing, though he sensed her inner stress; She was always one of the worriers, though her dedication was undoubted. He would have questioned if it was the same Okita he knew if she cowered under his usual, scrutinizing glare.

Without a doubt, the same Okita Souji he knew was before him. Since that was the case, then she wouldn't have given that haori out of ill intent. It still angered him, but even he, the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi, could not admonish her for the action. Had he not discarded his own beloved haori on the battlefields? To demand she commit seppuku for shaming their symbolic haori would mean he would have to do so for his own grave offense. Whether he fought on as a true example of the warriors he led or not, he fell under the same regulation.

Hijikata grit his teeth angrily, but did nothing more. After a small shake of his head, Hijikata exhaled. "I take it you have a good reason for handing out our haori so frivolously?"

"They're…" Okita's expression turned embarrassed as her ahoge dipped with shame.

To the relief of the two concerned masters and Okita, Hijikata's glare was mostly extinguished. His voice remained stern, "I don't know how Kondou would feel about this, but I'll let this pass… Our masters did say you've done a great job keeping Chaldea peaceful and safe."

"Hai! I try my best!" Okita quickly reassured with a newfound smile as the little chibi flailed happily in her arms. "But I couldn't have done so well without the others' help!"

"Then I assume you are one of these others…" Hijikata asked as he finally turned to meet the curious yet scrutinizing samurai. The blue-haired man, wearing his battle attire, had been watching him carefully ever since the outburst, but Hijikata couldn't tell if he was from his era. A few other robots, Chibi Nobus, and another employee also peered into the hallway, but his interest rested solely on this man.

"Just ensuring you're not picking a fight with our captain," Sasaki explained calmly with crossed arms.

Quickly, Okita shuffled to the door with the chibi still trapped in her arms. Hijikata took a step back to allow her through as she quickly bowed to her fellow Peacekeeper. "Sorry! It was just a little outburst! Please forgive Hijikata-san, Sasaki! He's very strict, but he always means well! He's like family to me!"

Her words brought a tiny, satisfied smile to the berserker's lips. Quite a few in the unit always saw Okita as a little sister, though it was a little different on the battlefield. Her swordsmanship was unparalleled in the Shinsengumi, and matched only by her fidelity. He could still hear the heart-wrenching pain in her voice when she on her deathbed, unable to fight alongside them to the end… Few were as loyal as her.

However, the other servant's name rang a bell, and Hijikata couldn't keep the inquiry to himself. "Sasaki Kojirou. The famed rival of Miyamoto Musashi… Only an hour here and I've run into a legend."

"Please. You give me too much credit. I'm afraid I'm just a humble swordsman," Sasaki modestly deflected with his usual, calm smile. "I wouldn't mind sparring sometime though, Hijikata. If what Okita says is true, you and the other Shinsengumi leaders were mighty with the blade."

The masters, completely relieved, appeared side by side in the small doorway as Hijikata found a tiny smirk had graced his lips. "Ho? That's an offer I can't turn down."

"…Oh! Speaking of offers..." Okita's ahoge sprung with realization. She turned back to him. "Hijikata-san? Did you just come to say hi? The Peacekeepers could always use more members but um…or maybe you… um… wanted to be…"

"I'll think about joining, but I'm not going to take your position from you." While it was amusing how worried she sometimes got, her thought was ridiculous. Yes, he was very well-versed on leading the special police force, but Okita had managed her squad just fine. Besides, the Peacekeepers were not the Shinsengumi, so he had no interest taking a role. "You've done well so far. Keep it up, and don't dishonor us."

"Hai! I'm always doing my best! ...Oh! Maybe I can give you a special role! I wouldn't feel right giving you orde-" Okita coughed, but Hijikata was very surprised at Sasaki's speed. In a blink, he was beside Okita, covering her mouth with a napkin since her arms were holding the Chibi Nobu; It looked very pleased it wasn't suddenly painted with blood. Releasing one of her arms, she took the napkin as the assassin chuckled. "…Thank you."

"…I see that has followed you here too." He frowned and shook his head while Okita smiled bashfully. The Chibi Nobu in her arm took the chance to wiggle free and quickly scampered back into the office. "You never did let it stop you until… Yea. You always were one of our best."

Gabrielle smiled reassuringly and giggled. "It never stops her here either! It's like a tiny road bump!"

The front door in the lobby opened, but he barely acknowledged the servant signature; Had he become that complacent in Chaldea already? Okita folded the handkerchief and smiled. Some of the shine left her eyes as she glanced past him. Anishka remained politely quiet, but Sasaki and Gabrielle snickered as Okita sighed. "…Oh no. What is it, Nobunaga?"

Finally, Hijikata turned around to see the archer. He first spotted the full-sized hat the little chibi wore, and made the necessary connections. The small girl who approached wore a simple jean shorts and a red hooded sweater with black sleeves. Her red eyes gazed at him with the same curious intensity he did to her. By what Okita just said, this small girl was the infamous warlord Oda Nobunaga… and he wasn't quite sure how to interpret that. The archer tilted her head slightly in thought as she stopped before him. "Hoy, Okita… Who's this guy?"

He narrowed his eyes slightly at the warlord's lack of respect. "You can ask me yourself, lass."

"Hey! Who are you calling lass? Do you know who you're talking to?" she practically snapped back. Only their first few lines, and Hijikata was already irritated by the warlord.

"Please don't get into an argument! It's just a simple misunderstanding!" Anishka attempted to assuage, but already their eyes narrowed further.

"Stop! Please don't fight! You only just met!" Okita was quick to jump between the two of them and hold her arms out. Her sympathetic eyes looked between both of them. "Nobunaga is like that sometimes… Please forgive her, Hijikata-san! Be nice too, Nobu! I told you how stern Hijikata is!"

"Ah… so he is one of your superiors…" Nobunaga commented as her gaze shifted to the two holsters at his side. "…Firearms? You never told me about that, Okita! I'm changing my mind about giving him a present!"

The berserker raised an eyebrow curiously as Okita seemed to panic. Nobunaga only laughed as her best friend pouted. "No! Don't even joke about prank bombs! You gave me a year's worth of paperwork already!"

Nobunaga only waved it off and rolled her eyes. "Sheesh… There's a truce, you know? I can't have my new underling getting hammered by Merlin when he doesn't even know the basics yet. Oh! But he's getting better! Angra only accidentally detonated a bomb on himself once yesterday!"

As she groaned, Okita covered her face with her hands while Nobunaga patted her back with a proud expression. These two were much better friends than he thought, and it made him curious. Then again, it didn't sit right with him that a supposed troublemaker warlord seemed to be getting away with acts, unless he misheard. It fanned the flames of his anger, and provided possible understanding of what 'control' this mad enhancement had over him.

He wondered if the actual crazed berserkers were knowledgeable of their circumstances; The vice-commander only had a vague understanding at best.

Sasaki chuckled, earning his and the masters' attention. He shook his head as the two best friends began bickering lightly. He then nodded to the masters before turning to Hijikata and holding his hand out. Without a word, and a slither of a smirk, Hijikata shook it firmly. Sasaki smiled, "We can talk about the spar sometime later. If you'll you excuse me, it's about time I switched with King Hassan at the vault."

With another chuckle, Sasaki shifted into spiritual form so the bickering pair wouldn't be interrupted. Anishka turned to him and smiled, "Hijikata… Would you like to continue the tour with us? Or would you be more comfortable if Okita would be your guide? She may still be free-"

An answer was delayed when Security Central's doors opened again. "Captain Okita! An emergency!"

This time, the five glanced as one down the hallway. Another servant presence approached swiftly, and soon enough Raikou appeared with a hurt expression. Like a pendulum, her long hair swung with her pace as she jogged down the hall in her pure lilac kimono. He failed to keep himself from staring at the movement of her bust as she moved; Their abnormal size confounded him. She stopped before them, and though Hijikata was interested in this emergency, he noted the others seemed less concerned.

Okita quickly answered his curiosity with a sigh. "…Is this about Kintoki and Shuten… again?"

"You really need to get over that." Nobunaga deadpanned with arms akimbo. "He's a grown man. He can handle himself."

"No! A mother can never just accept bad influences on her children!" Raikou quickly countered, and then glanced to Anishka. The Indian woman sighed as Gabrielle giggled beside her. Nevertheless, the berserker reported. "That's why I was glad I followed them today! At the beach…! Before my very eyes they were… holding hands while they talked!"

One of Okita's hands flew to her face, and she groaned into it. Nobunaga rolled her eyes while she patted her best friend on the back reassuringly. Regardless, as Gabrielle laughed, Raikou lightly stomped one foot in protest. "This is not funny! That's public indecency, is it not!? You must do something now!"

Slowly, he blinked. His silent doubts about Chaldea had only bloomed further.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ III ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

The tour took far longer than he thought, but it was finally over. The facility was larger and housed more variety than he thought. The potency of its heroes was unquestioned, and he even felt a begrudging sense of inadequacy compared to some of the powerful figures he briefly met. Still, like in Security Central, there had been some weird happenings that made him question the sanity of a group fighting for humanity's future. He kept it silent since it was his first day, but the skepticism was definitely founded.

However, it was only his first day, so he could allow a fair chance.

Okita and Ushiwakamaru had been good extra company on his tour, but now he was left to do things at his leisure; The two were on an extended supply sortie that started just before lunch. With no one for familiar company, he had decided to skip eating and went straight back to the resort's forest. This grassy spot is where he remained with only a bottle of sake from Club Cove to keep him company.

Quietly, he placed the now empty bottle on his discarded cape beside him and lifted the small cup to his lips. He took a tiny sip and leaned back against the palm tree that bordered the rocky shoreline. The waves lapped gently against the smoothed boulders as a few seagulls landed on them for a rest. He watched them idly and allowed nostalgia to wash over him; It felt just like the shores of Hokkaido where he'd usually sit and silently enjoy the ocean… almost always alone.

As he sat there drinking peacefully, Hijikata had lost track of time, but he didn't care. Truth be told, he was at a loss of what else to do. After years of handling business, pushing paperwork, training, and constant battle, he was suddenly informed he would likely have days of free time. There was no real itinerary that needed to be followed, nor work to be handled with vigor for his beloved group. He was now just a servant that waited to be deployed, though his first was tomorrow morning.

Hijikata felt he should enjoy all this free time, but it would take some getting used to… Hell, this entire place would take some time getting used to. There were supposedly many individuals with quirks, but it didn't seem too bad. That Raikou had been strange, and he was still confused that there were somehow two King Arthurs and three Jeanne d'Arcs. If Okita was any indication, maybe it was just a matter of time until he grew used to this. Perhaps Chaldea wouldn't be as crazy as he belie-

A scream echoed from the beach, and he glanced over quickly. There was a flash that drew his attention… and then kept it.

He held his sake cup as his eyes followed the shrieking new beast as it took to the skies. The colorful dinosaur soared overhead, scaring off a flock of flying macaws as its rider's happy laughter roared into the air. Hijikata squinted his eyes to see the green-bikini clad Quetzalcoatl grinning almost demonically towards the beach, but she remained overhead. A sparkle of golden dust drew his attention back to the beach where she stared, only to see another object take to the skies.

"Get back here with my top!" Ishtar roared angrily as her boat tore through the skies after her. One arm grasped her elegant bow while the other covered her bare chest where the top of her side-tied golden bikini should be. Her blush was as furiously red as her eyes as she attempted to catch up to Quetzalcoatl. Loud cheers and laughter from the beach, mostly from the children, sang through the air while Hijikata remained frozen with incredulous disbelief.

"Maybe you should have picked your words better, Ishtar!" the rider laughed as the archer's boat sped up. The quetzalcoatlus made a surprisingly steep dive last minute the threw Ishtar off course. She growled, changed direction, and chased after the rider. Dumbfounded at the beast's agility, Hijikata watched as the dinosaur climbed towards the ceiling. Ishtar's boat followed, and she sped up quickly to intercept.

Quetzalcoatl's mount pulled into a barrel roll, but the Mesopotamian goddess was already lined perfectly. "I got you now, you- HUH!?"

The rider leapt off her mount at the perfect time, making Ishtar soar between them as she attempted to grab the teased top. She growled as Quetzalcoatl winked and presented a kissy face. "Think I'd make a good matador~?"

Enraged, Ishtar turned her boat on a dime and shot back towards the falling Quetzalcoatl. Since she plummeted, Hijikata knew this was over because she couldn't dodge… yet she didn't need to. It was all part of her plan as the rider teased the lone top out for her rival to grab. Instead, she pulled it away last second, and reached out with her other arm. The rider grasped the string tying Ishtar's bikini bottom and yanked swiftly. Ishtar yelped as Quetzalcoatl claimed the second trophy with a loud cheer. "OLE~!"

"YOU FIEND!" Ishtar could only scream in embarrassment and surprise as she attempted to cover her now naked self. She did a fair job, though she was too far to be properly ogled by anyone before she careened into the water; In all her panic, she lost control of her boat. The water exploded into the air where she landed, but high above, Quetzalcoatl gracefully spun before landing atop her mount as it completed the barrel roll. The whole execution was flawless.

Cheers and applause from the beach were joined by sudden cries of panic. He looked over to see three servants struggling in waist-deep waters. Kuro and Illya clung to Nightingale, but the berserker in a yellow bikini only growled in frustration. "Children! Let go! There is a possibly drowning or injured person in the water! What if she requires resuscitation!?"

"No, no! I really think Rin wants to stay in the water right now!" Ruby laughed overhead as the girls struggled and splashed beneath them.

While Quetzalcoatl enjoyed a victory lap overhead with accompanying applause, a more skeptical Hijikata finally took the last sip. Scratch what he thought earlier… Irrationality seemed to be the very definition of Chaldean lifestyle. It was going to be a while before he got used to stuff like this, if he ever did. Truth be told, he was starting to question the dependability of his allies if this was how some acted. He could only hope this fighting force made up for it in other ways.

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Night had arrived sooner thanks to two more bottles of sake. The salon was in its usual hustle and bustle, but it was all Greek to him. Jeanne had the night off, but the string-playing triplets gave their own performance instead. The slow yet moving piece could be heard over the mostly polite and subdued chatter as the first robots exited the kitchen doors to deliver the bread baskets. They floated over, but waited politely to allow mingling groups to move at their leisure.

Warm light from the chandeliers briefly captured his attention again. Hijikata gazed at their ornate design before he glanced once more at the fine upholstery of his booth. Across from him, Ushiwakamaru quietly fiddled with the obi on her pure white kimono. His eyes then glanced over to the toga-wearing Romans as they shuffled over to their corner booth. A robot finally got to them and placed a basket of warm bread on the table; Even the wicker material and red cloth looked luxurious.

Chuckles from across the table snagged his gaze. "Never seen Garlic breadsticks before?"

"Well, no…" he noted, but then glanced around the room again. "This place just feels… far too luxurious for my tastes. I don't like it."

If one searched hard, they would not find any true moment in his past life where he experienced riches and luxury. As the Shinsengumi's Vice-Commander, he held himself to his mens' equal standard to show the others what they were supposed to be. He followed the Bushido code to the letter, and his reward for such steadfast loyalty was all that he wanted: More than enough money to buy his little delights. Barrels of takuan and sake enjoyed within the comfort of his comrades or solitude was all that he needed.

Part of him also believed this luxury was a bit much. Were they not a fearsome army fighting to serve humanity? He supposed the kings, queens, emperors, and more in their roster would believe otherwise, but he didn't think all of this was necessary. If he were to be honest, the reason he avoided such rich living was because it fostered complacency, and he'd seen many pampered nobles suffer once they took to the field.

"Noble or not, I think it'll grow on you," Ushiwakamaru appeased. She quickly took one of the breadsticks and happily bit into it.

Noticing other seated tables had also started their appetizers, he figured that was the signal. He reached for a breadstick and plucked it from its nest. Warmth lingered on his fingertips as he stared at the appetizer like it may be poisoned. He discarded his hesitation and took a bite… and had to do absolutely everything in his power to suppress his delighted surprise. This was just bread, yet it was unbelievable.

Somehow, Ushiwakamaru saw right through him and snickered. "Don't try and hide it. Tamamo did a spectacular job today."

Though he glanced to her with an unreadable expression, she chuckled and stated, "Yes… Tamamo no Mae is a kitchen chef."

"And you're really a hair stylist?" he responded flatly, which caused her to chuckle further. Even after she accompanied him and Okita on a Chaldean tour, he couldn't fathom the legendary Minamoto no Yoshitsune… whose military genius claimed many heads as trophies… was a hair stylist of all things. Then again, he was still having trouble accepting she was actually a woman. He struggled trying to find reasons to accept and like this place for that matter.

"It's a fun hobby. I'm not as good as Jing though," she replied simply as she reached for another breadstick. "Grab another! We could always get another basket!"

Whether or not the others were late or not, he didn't want to get addicted to these things. "I'll hold off until the others get here."

"Suit yourself!" Ushiwakamaru shrugged as she glanced out of the booth. He followed her gaze as she waved towards a trio of servants by the bar. By the looks of it, there was a blonde, muscular man with two small girls. The three-waved back to her, and he gave a brief wave too. Ushiwakamaru took another bite of her second breadstick and watched his lingered stare, even after they turned away. "Ah, don't worry. I was skeptical of them too, but the Onis are pretty nice."

He turned back with a raised eyebrow. "Those are the Onis? Gabrielle said one of them gave you a lot of trouble before… Ibaraki, was it?"

"Long story short… She got ahold of a grail and put us in a tight spot. Then she was summoned later, and Robin found out she's a sucker for candy." Ushiwakamaru finished off her breadstick with a pleased bite and a quick gulp. She wiped her fingers on her napkin. "It was Shuten who changed my opinion about them, but that's another story. You'll meet them soon enough! They sit in a neighboring booth."

Based on how casually a legendary Minamoto was talking about them, plus Raikou's 'report', it was fair to say these Onis were going to be very different from what he previously believed. They were supposed to be grotesque and terrible monsters, yet they looked more like children. Looks could be deceptive though. If anything, he was curious about meeting an actual demon after being called one so many times by spectators and comrades alike.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't even realize he unconsciously plucked another breadstick until he was already savoring the first bite. Ushiwakamaru chuckled at him as he groaned. Thankfully, if their distant bickering was any indication, Nobunaga and Okita had arrived with their other tablemates. He wouldn't grab a third, nor would he admit that this place's food may be gifts from the gods… at least not while other doubts remained.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ V ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

With boots discarded at the door, Hijikata sat on his bed and looked around his empty room. It was very likely he was going to leave it that way. At most, the wooden walls would be replaced with more traditional Japanese designs, and maybe even Tatami mats for flooring… but that would only be the result of Okita's insistence. While it was great she had his best interests in mind, he had to give her one of his old warning stares to get her to stop; She means well, but this was his space, not hers.

There was no need for any extra luxuries of any sort. He was a heroic spirit, and these little pieces of living were unessential. Eating food merely helped to conserve magical energy, but he would still happily consume sake and takuan when he pleased. They were the only little comforts he needed to be satisfied. The others could relish this luxury for all he cared, for he only had one goal in mind that coincided with humanity's preservation.

Eyes swept across the silent room again. At this time of night, he'd usually be handling paperwork or preparing for any business meetings. On rarer occasion, he'd even be up the whole night as he extracted necessary information from prisoners using his favorite, creative torture techniques. Instead, he was just sitting on a bed ready for an early sleep, which was a rarity in his past life.

Regardless of what he was doing, he found himself thinking about the Shinsengumi. Even though their organization had its holes, like many group, it was the pinnacle of his life. All he could see if he closed his eyes for any fair amount of time was their smiling faces and determined gazes. Those days made everything worth it, and he would always cherish them. It made him even more satisfied and happy that Okita was present here, meaning the Shinsengumi still-

No. Like he ran into a wall, the thought was stopped immediately. His face had taken on a firm, strong expression and he felt compelled to stand up. His bare feet automatically walked him across the room and into the bathroom. He flicked the lights on quickly, and stared at himself in the mirror. Any trace of the past thought was destroyed, replaced with only a simple resolution that echoed in his mind like thunder.

"The Shinsengumi never died," he stated strongly as he gazed at himself.

If anyone were watching, they would have questioned that, but he felt it. He knew it in his heart that was true. Even if history states they died when he did, he would argue that notion endlessly. No… So long as Hijikata Toshizo walked, the Shinsengumi would never disappear. Even without him, the Shinsengumi were undying, but he would be certain to show everyone that this was true. At worst, it was this conviction that would allow him to stomach his growing skepticism of Chaldea.

This was why he was here. Humanity would live on, and in doing so, he'd show the world Shinsengumi still fight. That was why he had accepted the contract, and why he was fine letting the masters lead. So long as they did not stop him, he would show them the might of the Shinsengumi… alone if he had to.

For all of his fallen comrades, his blade and rifle would sing their ballad for eternity.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Only another hour, men. We will take a break when we exit the forest." "Hai!"

The trees blew gently with a morning breeze, but did little for the resolute yet pained hearts of the men who walked the dirt road below. Their expressions were stern yet valiant. Each one was a veteran swordsman among the rest of the Ezo Republic, but they were far fewer in number than before. These warriors, clad in black battle-garb with their signature blue and white haoris, were the last hundred of their peers.

Still, they marched with resolve. In lighter times, they would have ridden horses, but supplies were running scarce. The war's conclusion loomed, and it was not looking good for their side. Despite this, Hijikata was as determined as ever, and it did not shake his stalwart conviction.

"Shinpachi. Your arm?" "It's fine, commander. It will not prevent me from leading my squad."

After nodding to one of their last captains, Hijikata continued moving up and down the marching ranks of the Shinsengumi. His eyes were firm yet stoic as he readjusted the straps over his Western-styled uniform; His haori was nowhere in sight. Even if he didn't have it anymore, and he was now the Assistant Army Minister of the Ezo Republic, he would always be Shinsengumi. He would always fight side by side with the Shinsengumi.

These last remnants have been through hard times together, but even so, his strict regulations remained in place. They were battered, but so was Hijikata. It had been unbelievably painful watching them fall one by one as he forged on with the survivors. Battle after battle, their numbers dwindled, but he held strong in his total conviction. Everyone who followed him remained inspired and invigorated, even if he could see the accumulated weariness.

Still, they followed his principles and stood loyally beside him. They marched with him to the stables where their healthy horses would take them into battle in the coming hours. Hijikata was proud of them as he walked up and down the formation, gauging every individual's spirit and mentality.

To him, the remnants still shined with all their might, and would continue to do so to inspire the Shogunate's forces.

Echoed steps of an incoming horse snapped his attention forward. Hijikata moved to the front of the formation. A few dozen seconds later, the courier had reached them and snapped a salute to the Shinsengumi Commander. "Sir! An urgent message from Army Minister Keisuke! Imperial Troops are staging for an assault on the fortress! He wants the Shinsengumi raid commenced as soon as possible."

"Then Keisuke will get that wish. Send word we'll make haste."

A salute was quickly given before the courier was off once more. He turned to his men, whose eyes were filled with resolution. He would have liked to grant them with a brief respite, but this was war. Conflict did not wait on weary bones, nor did it shower blessings on the weak. Only strong resolve was rewarded.

Shinpachi nodded to him. "On your order, Hijikata-san. We will follow you."

Hijikata was proud of them. He believed in them. Without a doubt, he would also gladly die beside them in the chaos of war. Despite what may come, he knew he belonged to the greatest form of comradery that none outside could ever hope to understand. There was no vacancy for doubt in his unyielding heart.

No matter what, they would succeed in taking the Kotetsu from the Emperor's forces. Hijikata nodded back and roared. "Shinsengumi! Double time to the stables!"

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

There was far more tension in the Deployment Room minutes after they returned. The supply sortie had a high probability of lasting into the afternoon due to its difficulty level, but it had ended just before lunch. The enemy had been swiftly defeated, but Chaldea suffered two injuries due to the unknown enemy's concealed allies. It would have been a minor inconvenience to regroup and tend to the injuries… but no one understood the specifics of Hijikata's mad enhancement until it ignited.

"You're too forceful! You could have gotten more injured because of your bullheaded actions!" "No one was injured, so get off my back."

Gabrielle and Gudao, arms crossed over their masters uniforms, watched the situation attentively beside each other with analyzing stares. The other servants merely observed the arguing berserkers, with no one daring to interrupt except Okita. She stood by them as Chaldeas gently turned behind them like the cogs in her visibly stressed mind. Hijikata merely paid her no attention as he glared down the shorter berserker.

"I'm a nurse, Hijikata. Need I remind you that I look after the well-being of all my potential patients." She declared forcefully. "That includes injury prevention!"

"And I'm well-versed in strategy. We had the clear advantage, so I pressed the attack. Our ferocity kept them off balance so they could injure no one else."

She snapped. "What kind of flawed tactician tells an injured soldier to advance or kill themselves on the spot!? That is unacceptable practice of any trade!"

"Nightingale, please!" Okita begged, and the two angered berserkers finally turned to her. "It's the discipline of the Shinsengumi. Retreat was unforgiveable and dishonorable. To abandon your comrades on the field was the greatest shame!"

The pink-haired berserker only crossed her arms and shook her head adamantly. "That does not apply here. This is Chaldea, not the Shinsengumi. If you two want to abide by those rules, that's on you, but do not force them on us! Especially not our injured who have every right to be pulled from the field."

Though Hijikata grunted, earning the nurse's glare again… he knew she was right. Chaldea wasn't the Shinsengumi, yet that did not register at all in the heat of battle. He just fell into step so easily. His actions felt so natural and his emotions so primal and valiant. Even yelling at the injured Xuanzang felt like the correct response he could give… or more specifically, the only response.

It was like he was back on those bloodied fields with the Shinsengumi. He'd roar his orders over gunfire and clashed blades as he strode forward with his comrades at his side. His conviction swelled within, yet he knew it didn't blind him, for his tactics when working with Okita were still sound and precise. The battle enemy had been brought down swiftly thanks to the Shinsengumi spearhead, yet it had apparently gone against the masters' more cautionary wishes.

Slowly, he turned to Okita, who looked at him apologetically. "…Hijikata-san… Nightingale is right. I got so caught up following your encouraging words again that we both advanced against the masters' orders."

"It's alright, Okita. It happens," Gudao reassured quietly with a small smile. "The injuries didn't come from you two, thankfully."

"That still doesn't excuse this brash fool's actions, berserker or not." Hijikata's glare turned towards the offending servant, but Hans merely stood with crossed arms and scoffed. "That offended you? You should be more offended at yourself. The Demon Vice-Commander who penalizes any who went against the Shinsengumi doctrine grew deaf ears for our masters? Your hypocrisy is unfounded yet comical, Hijikata. Did Commander Kondou have to mitigate this brashness too?"

His eyes narrowed further as Okita looked between them in distress. "You've got a lot of guts saying that to me."

"I've had worse than your imaginative torture could ever offer," Hans tossed back easily as Asterios, who was behind the caster, glanced down sympathetically. The blue-haired man's scrutinizing and analytical stare met his glare firmly. "Speaking of suggestions… though you seemed fairly oblivious to your own summoned state, which would be preposterous were you not a berserker… It appears we've unearthed the quirk of your mad enhancement."

All eyes turned to him as his eyebrows scrunched in an attempt to understand. He was still uncertain what he did wrong, or why they were even blaming him. He just did what had always been natural: He followed his conviction that was rooted strongly to his undying fidelity to the Shinsengumi doctrine.

…and yet, their scrutinizing of him in this moment gave him his first glimpse of something interesting. Though the room remained silent, he gazed between the many eyes, but most specifically Nightingale and Hans' glare. They were two different heroes with varying backgrounds and experiences, yet that glint was unmistakable. It filled and colored their eyes, and did not falter for anything he had said. It was just a glimpse, but it was a pleasant discovery in a tense moment.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ VIII ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

Benkei kept his arms crossed over his brown kimono ensemble and nodded slowly. "I understand… so in battle, you become blinded with your own conviction and impose the Shinsengumi rules on those around you."

"It doesn't feel like madness of any sort. I've always felt that way." Hijikata answered plainly but stared at the board between them.

"Such is madness. It amplified your resolve more than you can perceive." Benkei didn't need to say it to confirm it; Hijikata understood. "One of the better mad enhancements, I'd say."

Yet, he didn't pay it very much attention. He was currently appreciating the calm afternoon with Benkei, trying out his first round of a western counterpart of shogi: Chess. It was a rather peaceful afternoon in the outdoor cafeteria where they enjoyed the peaceful breeze and the warm atmosphere while getting to know each other. He had to enjoy this peaceful moment while it lasted… before Chaldea's madness popped up again. To ruin that by distracting himself with thoughts he wasn't even bothered by would be rude to the lancer across from him.

In all honesty, the only reason he had been angry at Nightingale and Hans was because they kept admonishing him for such petty consequences.

Hours had passed since then, and his only concern now was keeping his current advantage. He picked up his lone, unmoved pawn and moved it two spaces forward to meet Benkei's black one. He nodded slightly in approval. There were differences between the two games, but he was coming to like chess a bit more for certain reasons.

Benkei chuckled. "If only this were shogi… I could pull that pawn back."

"They advanced with honor. Let them hold the frontline so the rest can do their part," Hijikata reprimanded, but with an amused tone. He smirked lightly at Benkei, who chuckled again. "If they fall, they will be remembered and avenged. Retreat should never be an option until no enemy remains."

Curiously, Benkei smile seemed wistful as he moves a piece. "…I would like to agree, but that would make me a hypocrite."

"How so? Real Benkei or not, you fell in battle honorably." His bishop moved across the board and knocked down a rook.

"I see Yoshitsune-dono has left it to me to inform you." Hijikata looked up as Benkei nodded with a stern face. To his surprise, there was no pause or hesitation in his shameful admittance. "I didn't fall in that battle. I lost my nerve and fled."

Anger swelled within him. He had said it calmly, but with palpable hints of regret and shame; Hijikata couldn't accept that. Suddenly, the respect for this man was put into complete question as he found himself glaring at the lancer. To his disbelief, and partial fury, Benkei met the glare evenly.

The lancer nodded shamefully and moved his knight into position. "It was dishonorable for a monk and retainer to flee Lord Minamoto's side."

With little thought and rising anger, Hijikata took his knight and cut down one of Benkei's last pawns. "…Then how did you become a heroic spirit?"

"I don't know. All this time and I still don't understand why I am here with the real Benkei's abilities." He was still irritatingly calm as he moved his knight and took Hijikata's queen. Both made the berserker visible aggravated. "But I will not allow myself to waste this opportunity granted once more by Yoshitsune-dono."

There was a brief silence as Hijikata's moves became less strategic yet faster. His lead faltered quickly thanks to his current aggression, but his focus rested elsewhere. The person before him was disgraceful, yet he couldn't take anger out on the man himself. He had become a special agent, an exclusive Peacekeeper rank given to him because Okita felt terrible about giving him orders. To act against the facility's rules would tarnish Okita's efforts and also shame the name of the Shinsengumi. He would disgrace both of them and receive serious punishment.

On the other hand, both men belonged to the same culture. He wanted to demand that 'Benkei' atone properly for his actions and mimicry. His still stone-faced expression with glints of regret did little to calm the berserker. Before him was a criminal to fidelity, and he couldn't accept that… Yet still, he growled as Benkei another of his pieces… "...Why hasn't she demanded you commit seppuku? Why is she giving you a second chance?"

"Yoshitsune-dono originally disliked me… She demanded I atone as well." Benkei moved one of his remaining pieces to take out Hijikata's last knight. The berserker hadn't been thinking clearly. "…But I can't die yet. No. If I die, then I cannot ensure the names of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Musashibo Benkei will endure for eternity. That is my atonement which shall never cease."

Hijikata stared at the chessboard as Benkei moved his king to take a pawn. Neither of them had any pieces left on the board besides the kings... It was a draw. Some birds chirped on the cafeteria roof as the laughter of playing children echoed from the beach. Still, Hijikata glared lightly at the board.

It still didn't feel right. Their culture was strict and straightforward. Dishonor should be dealt with accordingly, yet Ushiwakamaru decided otherwise. The sight of her and Benkei sitting next to each other for dinner, exchanging friendly banter and laughs, was unmistakable. She had forgiven him, and proved far more lenient than he could ever be. He couldn't understand, but at the same time, he wished for one final answer. "…And you intend to serve her flawlessly this time?"

Without any doubt, Benkei's gaze was as resolute as his. "She has given me the chance to fight with her once more… as her friend and retainer. If I retreat from her side, I shall cut myself down before you even have the chance."

…There it was again. It still boggled his mind, but he could not mistake that look in his eyes for anything. That was the same shine that glinted in the eyes of the Shinsengumi's best. Adamant dedication that bordered on total fanaticism earned back much of Hijikata's evaporated respect. No, this man wasn't Benkei, and though he didn't agree with a second chance for a coward, he couldn't ignore the man's obvious and renewed fidelity.

"I'll race you if that time comes." Hijikata chuckled lightly, making Benkei's eyes widen in surprise.

The lancer smiled. "…Thank you, Hijikata. I will ensure that time never arrives."

Content, but a bit disappointed the first game went so shoddily, Hijikata started placing his pieces back as Benkei followed suit. Still, he found a tiny smirk on his face for yet another discovery. He would have to keep his eyes open more often… and hope he saw something admirable and not unexplainable.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ IX ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Get back here you little brat!" "Joan! Stop! I told you to be nice to Janna!"

Like a car waiting for the light to turn green, Hijikata passed a quick, incredulous glance at the three sisters who ran past the intersection in a blur. If he had seen that correctly, he was almost positive the older alter was wielding an umbrella like a club. Shrugging it off, Hijikata continued his stroll down the once-more empty hallway to get to the resort. He nodded to a duo of passing employees with his usual, firm expression. At least the employees were actually normal.

It was the morning of the fourth day since he'd arrived, and he was starting to understand the intricacies and quirks of this place. It was an efficient, tight-knit, and eccentric community, and he was the newcomer who they readily welcomed. They were undisciplined, certainly, but he had honestly expected at least some discontent and infighting. If anything, any possible drama boiled in secret while the community at large merely went about their ordinary days with accompanying absurd antics.

He moved over slightly in the hallway to give the hunched over Asterios in bright red room to walk by. In his arms, Euryale, in her white sundress, curled happily into his chest while she read a book. Hijikata passed them a brief second glance as they passed. Even if his eyes didn't show it, he was still very much taken back by all the strange sights that happened; Every new day seemed to be a new attraction in this strange circus.

Minutes later, he came to the end of this corridor where it branched into Chaldea's windowed hallway. He was about to turn the corne- "You gotta run faster than that, Blackbeard!"

The berserker stopped himself. Staring incredulously, he took a step back and allowed the two scantily clad pirates to run past. Wearing matching jeans shorts with red and black crop tops respectively, Anne and Mary bolted away with a few magazines in their hands. He turned around just as Blackbeard skidded to a stop in the hallway. Without a single glance to Hijikata, he renewed his charge after the girls as Mary taunted him. "How's it feel getting your treasures stolen, Teach!?"

"Be gentle with those Playboy magazines!" The rider's jean-covered legs were a blur once more as his loose, white shirt flapped like a sail. "They were hard to get, god dammit! At least your panties are oh so soft and flexible!"

Curious if the parade had ended, Hijikata turned back around and looked both ways. Thankfully, the next sight was much tamer as Mata Hari walked by while holding hands with her daughter. The adoptive mother in her salon uniform waved cheerily to Hijikata, as did Paul in her jean overalls and plaid shirt. "Good morning, Hijikata! I heard breakfast was fun?"

"I'd rather not think about it," he replied simply as the two giggled. It was a literal mess that started with Elizabeth giving an impromptu concert for her growing fanbase. Altera failed to stop a jealous Nero from hurling a tomato at her successful rival, but Robin leapt in the way to take the hit instead. It had turned into an overdramatic death spectacle as Elizabeth acted like Robin had just been shot… while the exasperated archer constantly insisted he was perfectly fine.

That's when Elizabeth threw the second tomato that hit empress and ignited the real food fight. Thankfully, he got out unscathed thanks to spiritual form.

Mata Hari smiled apologetically. "You'll grow used to it. Chaldea's a fun place like that~! Right, sweetie~?"

"It's the best!" the blonde quickly responded, but Hijikata only blinked and withheld his lingering skepticism.

After a parting nod, he let them walk past him and gave them space before following after. He watched her quietly talking with Paul about little things while gently swinging their arms, but not on purpose. They went the same way, and there were just in his view. This little family scene was a tiny respite in a sea of seemingly random, eccentric happenings. Hopefully getting his clothing order later would be just as peaceful.

He had to wonder what yesterday's arrival had to think of all this… or maybe she was just as eccentric and he was among the outliers in this madness.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ X ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

"Gudao, please! He's fine! This isn't the first ti-" "That's what makes it worse! I should have been paying more attention!"

Chaldea's emergency announcement was not given much thought until Hijikata walked past the Medical Bay. The yelling thay emanated through the door stopped the servant with curiosity. In one hand, he had a peculiar duffel bag that fit far more than he imagined; It carried his newly delivered clothes, save for the brown kimono ensemble he swapped into at the Clothing Department's changing room. With bubbling intrigue as the yelling continued, albeit more muffled, Hijikata decided on a small detour from his room.

Yelling subsided quickly as the doors slid open and he walked in. His gaze immediately fell onto the group crowding the waiting room. Stares from battle-clad servants and uniformed masters mentally staggered him; Whatever they did to these walls, they sure were harder to detect properly. He had not expected so many to be clustered here with a visibly nervous acting director… who hadn't ceased pacing back and forth nervously. Da Vinci had to tap his shoulder to stop him.

He wasn't the only one stressed based on the atmosphere, so he got straight to the point. "You lot are pretty loud… Someone have an accident?"

"It almost was a funeral…" Gudao, seated in a chair, grumbled angrily to himself as Mashu rubbed his back. Fou's ears drooped as it sat in his lap and watched. Joan clicked her tongue angrily in the corner, drawing a small glance from Scathach who leaned against the nearby wall. The avenger crossed her arms tighter and faced away from the others. Gudao shamefully glanced to her before he looked back down at the ground. "…Sorry, Joan… I really messed up…"

She scoffed at him, though her glare looked forced and weak. "…Dantes is the one you should say it to… He's the hopeless fool who jumped in front of that attack for me…"

"Then that announcement was about this then," Hijikata surmised plainly. "He's bedridden?"

"They're still stabilizing his condition." Roman's quiet answer made Joan turn back to the wall, and he thought he saw her wince.

"That singularity wasn't supposed to go that bad…" Gudao mumbled to himself as he buried his face into his hands. Mashu leaned over from her seat to comfort him with a hug. "I should have been more careful… Shit!"

"It was the same case before the sixth singularity. You couldn't have known," Scathach reprimanded lightly. "Mistakes happen, Gudao. You berate yourself too much when they do. Both you and Gabby. I hope Anishka won't be the same way."

"I definitely will be," she admitted apologetically. That didn't sit well with Hijikata.

"The lancer is right. Leadership shouldn't be admonishing themselves so openly. It sets a poor example. You look pathetic." Hijikata's words were like a slap across their faces, and Gabrielle turned to him incredulously. He glanced around to see Roman and Mashu were also offended at his words, but the others remained rather unreadable save for Gudao; He was still visibly distressed as he lowered his hands… and it annoyed him. "Dantes is being healed, right? What's the problem then? He returned just fine, and we were victorious."

"That's not the point, Hijikata!" Gabrielle snapped with anger. "We almost lost Dantes! We've been doing whatever we could so no one ever dies!"

Hijikata narrowed his eyes. "That's naïve. This is war. Do you honestly think you can keep doing this forever? It's bound to happen eventu-"

"That doesn't mean I'm not going to do everything to try prevent it!" Gudao countered immediately with clenched fists and still ashamed eyes. "You're people! You're all living, breathing people who have made a home here, and I'm not going to rob anyone of that!"

"And you didn't." Hijikata completed as he gestured towards the closed doors that led to the patient rooms. Truth be told, it was absolutely commendable that they'd gone over a year without losing a single servant in battle. He had to give credit to the combined strategic caution and combat skill of his fellow servants. Still, it was ridiculous. Chaldea's system was unique, which probably meant… "Even if we did die, couldn't you just summon them back?"

"We could, yes. The system is capable of exact summoning since your saint graph is recorded," Da Vinci chimed in honestly, but waved her finger. "However… I suspect anything gained in Chaldea is almost guaranteed lost… Ascensions, knowledge… but most importantly their memories of being here."

"That's why I refuse to risk it! We're not going to make a habit of using you carelessly like a bunch of tools!" Gabrielle glared as her fists shook. "You're our allies and friends! I won't just leave you hanging out to dry if we can find a better way! Dammit, we'll always find a better way no matter how crazy!"

"Chaldea's servants deserve that much," Anishka sincerely pleaded. "We all care deeply. You've honored us by answering the call, so the least we can offer is to do our best to ensure your safety and happiness. If it's your job to help us protect humanity's future, then it's ours to provide assistance however we can."

"And one way is ensuring no one loses that priceless happiness they've found here," Gudao added as he gazed doubtlessly at him. "It used to be just a fight for humanity, but now it's something more than that. Chaldea is a second chance for many. It's a chance to start again or make something new, and everyone here has taken that to heart. To threaten that because of my mistake or… No. I can't allow that. We'll do whatever we can to preserve it."

Joan's glare had nearly vanished as she stared at the masters, while Scathach's lips formed a tiny, content smile. Roman and Da Vinci smiled at each other, then back at the masters. Hijikata remained blank, but gazed between the three equally. Regardless of how they looked at him, or their words that rang through his head, it was their eyes that he was most interested in.

As he gazed into each one, he couldn't help feeling a bit more… satisfied. 'Ah… There it is again…'

Ushiwakamaru and the others had told him they'd gotten lucky with their masters since mages could be terribly inhumane. He had previously thought they may be a touch too soft, but he could see it now. They cared, and they took this seriously. He could see the outright conviction in their eyes. Maybe they were too cautious for his liking, but he could at least understand the underlying feelings.

As quirky as Chaldea was, it was a home. They clearly took that to heart, and feared what would happen if they disrupted that. To watch over your comrades was something he understood and could respect. The sheer loyalty to them wasn't as apparent until now, and this was just a look through the windows of their souls. He would have to ask around to get a better picture of just how involved and serious these masters could get… but his respect was definitely blossoming.

"…Even after learning it's only a temporary loss, you still feel so strongly about ensuring our safety…?" To the surprise of many, he let out a pleased smirk and sighed. "What terrible mages. I'm beginning to see why Okita has taken such a shine to all of you… Your fidelity to your comrades... I can certainly admire that."

His respect for Chaldea had been building as fast as his skepticism diminished. They were crazy, but their resolve was nothing short of top tier. They weren't the Shinsengumi, but they were certainly something he wouldn't mind fighting beside. With every passing day, he'd seen more and more glints in this facility to equally match the absurdities. They may be crazy, but they were also crazily determined to protect the unusual bonds that were forged here.

Gudao nodded with appreciation, while Gabrielle's glare faltered. Anishka offered a sincere smile. However, all eyes quickly snapped to the doors as they opened to reveal a battle-clad Nightingale. She smiled to the group. "He's stable. Irisviel and Jekyll are just cleaning up- Hey! Joan, wait!"

Too late. The armored alter had already bolted for the room even as Nightingale tried to stop her. She huffed with frustration, nodded to the masters with a reassuring smile, tossed a flat glance towards him, and then ran after her. The doors slid shut again to leave them in silence.

Feeling content, Hijikata merely nodded to the masters, then started walking towards the door with arms crossed over his chest and a rather calm expression. A bewildered Roman gawked at him. "Hey! That's it!? Not going to say sorry or anything!? After all that!?"

"Ah…" he muttered calmly as he came to a sudden stop when the doors opened. After a small pause, he glanced behind him and offered a small, satisfied smirk. "…Pissing people off wasn't my intention. I was just curious… but I really like what I found in here... So don't go disappointing me in battle, now."

Roman could only stare in stupefied shock, but Gudao, Gabrielle, and Anishka shared the same, understanding smile. Da Vinci and Scathach shared a slightly amused expression. As for Hijikata, he merely walked through the doors. He had clothes to drop off, and after that, there was a sake bottle and a grassy spot under a tree with his name on it. Hopefully he could enjoy it in peace, but Chaldea's antics were growing a little less bothersome by the day.

¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨(¯ˆ·.¸ XI ¸.·ˆ¯)¨·..·¨·..·¨·..·¨

A lone rowboat paddled across Chaldea's little ocean in the afternoon sun. It gently rocked with passing waves that turned into suitable rides for the surfers further away. Dressed in a white tropical shirt and tan slacks, Hijikata watched them quietly with his arms crossed. Okita paddled carefully while humming a small tune, and ensured her strokes did not wet either of them; Hijikata remained dry, but her efforts splashed some drops on her white hot pants and cyan bikini top.

Hijikata glanced to his old comrade. "Why were you so insistent on rowing?"

"I'm used to the chibis doing all the work so I wanted to do it this time!" she replied with a smile. "We're almost to the center. Then we can drink in peace!"

He would have preferred the calmness of his favorite tree where they could watch the sand castle contest, but Okita was insistent on going out on a boat ride. It had become a personal pastime of hers to enjoy the ocean. Usually it was Nobunaga accompanying her on a boat, but they hadn't had much time until recently. Which brought up the next point that made him smirk. "Are you sure Nobunaga will get it done?"

Okita giggled and nodded enthusiastically. "We fight a lot, but she won't disappoint me! Besides, she lost the bet, so she has to do my paperwork for the weekend!"

Hijikata glanced to the distant beach, to the distant figures of the two aforementioned servants. He couldn't see her properly, but he could just imagine Nobunaga's sulking face while Ushiwakamaru supervised, but mostly sunbathed, beside her. Maybe her chibis were just as efficient with paperwork as Okita's little squad? Either way, he didn't like Nobunaga that much, so he didn't feel bad.

As the boat rocked with the waves, Okita stopped rowing while Hijikata reached behind him to grab a wicker basket. He placed it between them, then Okita eagerly sifted through it. She pulled out the bottle of sake and two cups. After she gave one to Hijikata, she quickly poured their shares without spilling any. She placed the top back on the bottle, and raised her small cup to his. "Hijikata-san! Kanpai!"

"Kanpai." He smirked as their glasses clinked. They quickly downed their first tastes of the relished liquid, so Okita grabbed the bottle to pour their next share. Drinks and conversation with his comrades… He'd done this so many times with the Shinsengumi that it would always feel proper to him. To be doing it once more with a good friend he thought he'd never see again made it even better.

Upon sipping his second glass, Okita finished pouring her new share. She beamed, "I'm excited for Monday! Roman said the supply sortie is in Edo!"

"Going to try and find a bonsai tree for your desk?"

She placed a finger to her lips in thought. "Fionn says I should try something different like flowers… Oh! Or maybe a desk toy of some sort?"

"Like that tiny trebuchet Tota found in yesterday's raid?"

"Yea! Like that!" she grinned. "Maybe a plush toy of some sort? I should ask Atalanta's girl for opinions… It must be cute though!"

Hijikata smirked. "…If the others could see you acting like such a girl… Maybe you'd get more confessions than you had before."

"N-Nani!?" she stuttered and yelped as a flush took to her cheeks. She'd become so much more open and lively in Chaldea.

"Ahoy there! What's going on over here? A little love confession on the high seas?"

The two turned to look as a small sailboat quickly approached. The sails were furled with perfect timing to reveal Drake standing by the mast in a red bikini. A teasing smirk graced her lips, but Okita quickly recomposed herself as Hijikata remained blank faced. As her boat pulled beside theirs, she snapped her fingers in dismay and shook her head. "Ah… shame. I thought I found some blackmail to leverage some favors… or maybe I can still leak it to the French? The Annie and Arjuna rumor might getting a bit old for Marie. She may like some new romance gossip."

"You can try, but Hijikata is family!" Okita quickly nodded with a smile. He nodded in agreement. When you were Shinsengumi, your comrades were family. Some had tried to break that with Okita to become something more, but she had turned down every approach. He couldn't think of her as anything else but a genius swordswoman, especially because he wasn't interested in the least. She was beautiful, but she wasn't his kind of beautiful.

"…Eh, was worth a shot…" Drake sighed, but chuckled.

"Speaking of shots… Want sake?" Okita stated as she raised the bottle. Expecting Drake's rhetorical answer, she had reached into the basket and pulled out another cup. The pirate grinned at her while Okita winked. Drake reached over the side to pull her boat towards them to close the gap.

Suddenly, taking even Hijikata by slight surprise, a servant materialized on Drake's sailboat wearing a strange sort of costume. It resembled an eerie ghost complete with a white, skeletal mask with glowing red eyes. Drake turned around quickly to look as the servant raised its arms and let out an otherworldly, bestial roar. Hijikata would have materialized his blade had the costume itself not been unrealistic. It didn't even prod his flight or fight instinc-

"G-GHOST!" Apparently, Drake was another story as she screamed like a princess. Okita yelped in surprise as Drake fell overboard.

Seconds later, she burst from the water, flailing and splashing for a second before she clung to the side of her ship in terror. Hijikata and Okita glanced to each other, then back at the tomato-red and soaked Drake, who could not possibly hide her embarrassed blush. With rising fury in her eyes, she turned towards the laughing servant on her boat as he removed the specialized cape and added mask.

Howling with laughter, Angra Mainyu clutched the costume against his black swim trunks as he tried to control himself. "That scream! Oh shit! Artemis wasn't kidding!"

"You. Are. Dead." Drake growled angrily, but Angra only kept the smile on his face as he stared at her sheepishly.

"Two things before that… One, Blackbeard gave me the info and costume." Hijikata blinked at the outright treason to save his ass, but Okita laughed. "Two… Worth it!"

Before Drake could even respond, Angra had jumped ship and now swam for his life towards the docks. Drake, still flushed, clambered into her boat and stared at the two Shinsengumi incredulously. Her blush grew just a bit as she growled, "…You didn't see anything. Nothing happened here!"

"See what? All I see is that your prey is disengaging," Hijikata merely observed as he pointed towards Angra with a tiny, growing smirk. "…Show retreaters no forgiveness."

Drake smirked back. "…I like the way you think. You've got a good friend, Okita!"

Moments later, Drake's sail was in place. The sailboat moved towards the docks as the legendary pirate roared her death threats at Angra, while Blackbeard and Mephistopheles' distant laughter could be heard from the docks. Okita and Hijikata watched briefly before they both wound up laughing. The berserker turned back to his friend and smirked, "…Looks like Nobunaga just got more paperwork."

Okita smiled warmly at him. "And it looks like you've grown used to Chaldea's goofiness!"

"…Maybe a bit." To think he actually had relinquished his disbelief was astounding. Perhaps it was just the sheer overload of strangeness that it just all felt expected and ordinary at this point. He even felt a little blasé about working alongside so many legendary names. Despite all the unbelievable happenings and interactions he often saw, at least there was one part he could wholeheartedly believe in. "Some of these heroes are ridiculous… But at least their spirits are in the right place."

It certainly made coming to like this place that much easier. He raised his cup up, and Okita happily clinked her own against it.