A/N: Hi guys…a little announcement. I am currently in peak season (I have to process about 800 forms by this weekend, and that is just ONE deadline) and I'm working overtime as it is. My other fics are still works in progress. If you're wondering "then why does she have time for this one" – I wrote drafts some time ago and just needed a quick proofread before I sent it along. Plus, I have to admit this fic is becoming a bit of an obsession.

Episode 3

The weekend flew past, as it did for all high school students.

For Hijikata however, it felt like it flew by especially faster. In fact, the weekend skyrocketed right past him. Before he knew it, Sunday night was staring him in the face.

He had spent the entire weekend holed up in his room, trying to do his homework, occasionally watching TV or surfing the net. Kondo had called him up asking if he wanted to hang out, but he made up a convenient excuse about helping his mom with household chores (He didn't.).

Sunday night found Hijikata Toushirou desperate and depressed.

Over the weekend, various thoughts plagued and tortured him. Kondo's reaction was first and foremost on his mind. Should Kondo believe that he, Hijikata Toushirou, his most trusted right-hand man (whom he had forced to deliver 90% of all love letters and gifts to his object of his affections - the other 10% was delegated to Okita Sougo), had 'betrayed' him by now dating said object of affections - Hijikata could only shudder in picturing Kondo's rage, not to mention the disappointment and hurt that he would cause his oldest and closest high school friend. (Although he had to admit, it was almost akin to retribution for making Hijikata the go-between in his pursuit of Tae against his will.)

But what kind of guy goes round stealing another guy's girl? Clutching his head as he lay sprawled on his bed, Hijikata groaned for the 5832th time over the weekend. He would not have a single friend left in high school. The kendo team would throw him out for 'betraying' their captain.

Hijikata contemplated, also for the 5832th time, whether there was any way in which he could weasel himself out of the death agreement that he had apparently bound himself to. He could beg. He could threaten suicide. He could find dirt on Tae and blackmail her.

Yeah, right.

Hijikata grabbed a pillow and pressed it down to his face, groaning.

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Monday morning was cool with clear blue skies. Exactly the opposite of how Hijikata felt.

With trepidation, Hijikata trudged towards the school gates. This must be what a hitman's target feels like, he though randomly and dejectedly, almost expecting to have a bokutou or some kind of weapon angled towards his neck at any second.

Somehow or other, however, he managed to make it to his shoe locker, and his classroom. As he slid the door open, the whole class fell silent.

"Oi, Hijikata-san."

Hijikata turned to stare at Okita and braced himself.

"You look like shit. What were you doing? Didn't sleep the whole night?"

Relief hit Hijikata, washing over him like a welcome shower after a grueling kendo practice. If he didn't hate Okita so much he would have hugged the little red-eyed sadist. I'm still safe! he thought, as he tried to come up with some response that made sense.

Kondo appeared out of nowhere and joined in the let's-stare-at-Hijikata party. "Sou da na, Toushi," he commented, staring with full concentration at Hijikata's dark circles and puffy eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Hijikata sweatdropped. No doubt this concern would not last as soon as Kondo found out that his trusted Toushi was "dating" his beloved Otae-san. "Yeah...I'm fine. Just...a lot of homework." And a lot of panic and guilt, he added silently. Guilt does do that to you - keep you up all night long.

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"Ne, Hanako-chan! Are you listening?"

Oryou and Hanako were in the girls' loos, Oryou touching up her hair, while Hanako stood around restlessly waiting. School had let out for the day, and both girls were whiling their time until their respective after-school club activities - Hanako was in the kendo team, while Oryou in sado.

"E-eh?" Hanako was jolted out of her stupor by one glaring Oryou. "I'm sorry! ...what were you saying?"

Oryou gave her a Look. "Out with it, Hanako-chan. I know you're worried about something."

"No!" Hanako blushed. "I can't say it...gomen, Oryou-senpai."

"Heee? Aha! I know!" Oryou clapped her hands gleefully. "...you have a crush on someone!"

"Nooo!" Hanako protested vehemently. "It's not me, it's Shimura-taichou - oh no!" Hanako clapped her hands to her mouth.

Oryou froze. "...what?"

"Nooo! Don't ask me! I can't say it!" Hanako cried, holding her hands up to her ears.

"Fine, fine, I get it..." Oryou scowled as she continued to brush her hair.

"I saw Shimura-taichou and Hijikata-kun in our club room last week! Alone!" Hanako blurted out.

"HEEE? MAJI DE?" The exclamation reverberated all around the loo walls.

"Kyaa!" Hanako pounced on Oryou, covering her mouth to stifle her scream. "SSSSH!" Looking around, Hanako quickly checked the cubicles, making sure they were the only ones in the loo; Oryou followed suit when she had gotten over her initial shock. When they were satisfied, Oryou dragged Hanako to a corner of the girls' loo. "Which club room? What were they doing!"

Hanako clutched Oryou's shoulders. "You have to promise to keep it a secret! You can't tell anyone! Not a single soul!"

"I promise I promise!" Oryou hissed. "Quick, tell me! Before anyone else comes in!"

Throwing one last look at the door, Hanako lowered her voice to a stage whisper. "They were in the kendo girls' clubroom! I left my water bottle behind the day before and I went to go take it. When I opened the door...I saw Taichou and Hijikata-kun sitting on the bench together! Just the two of them!"

"HEE! What were they doing? Were they..." Oryou's eyes bugged out, "k-k..kissing?"

Hanako blushed furiously. "NOOO! They were just sitting there."

Oryou rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Nani, Hanako-chan. That's not interesting at all. They were probably discussing the Regionals or something. Or maybe Hijikata-kun was there because of Kondo-san, like always."

"Hmm...I guess..." Hanako trailed off. "Although ...I did think that...they looked like they were about to kiss..."

"Heee?" Oryou now clutched at Hanako upon hearing the sudden shift in events. "How do you know?"

"Well...right after I opened the door, Hijikata-kun said," Hanako scrunched up her face, trying to recall his exact words, "'I thought you said you locked the door!' or something like that..."

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"And they were about to kiss!" Oryou hissed.

"Hee? Really?" Even Tama, who was normally unfazed by anything, turned to look at Oryou, ignoring the tea that she had half-brewed in front of her.

"But you MUSN'T tell a single soul, Tama-chan! I'm only telling you because you're from another class and another club and it won't hurt to tell someone who doesn't have anything to do with Otae-chan. It's just that, I can't stand not telling anyone! ...Ne?" Oryou held up her hands in a begging motion. "Don't tell a single soul!"

"Understood!"

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"A second-year, Hanako-chan, saw Shimura Tae, the captain of the girls' kendo team, and Hijikata Toushirou, the vice-captain of the boys' kendo team, kissing in the kendo club room!"

"Seriously? Hmph," Catherine continued to wipe the newly-washed coffee mugs stacked in front of her. Both she and Tama were on their late evening shift at Snack Otose, a small cafe where they worked part-time after school. " But doesn't the kendo captain have like a public crush on her? Was it...Kendo or Kondo...I can't remember. Some other guy in the same class."

"I guess this is what you call...a subordinate and his superior fighting over the same woman, isn't it? Just like a television drama?" Tama speculated, as she continued to sweep the floor around Catherine.

"Ch'. Stupid third years." Catherine didn't hide her disgust.

"Um. Catherine-san is also a third year."

"Shut up."

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"3Z's Shimura Tae and Hijikata Tae are a couple!"

"No way!"

"Some second-year saw them making out in the store room! Really!"

And so it went.

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"Kondo-san. It's been a while."

"Oooh, Itou!" Kondo turned and waved at Itou Kamotarou, captain of a rival kendo team from another school. Itou's team had lost to Kendo's in the National finals the year before. "I certainly haven't seen you for a long time. How have you been? Imagine running into you here."

"Same here." Itou allowed Kondo to enter the ramen shop before following suit. "Back from kendo practice?"

"Yeah. Kendo practice really does make one hungry...I feel like I could eat 10 bowls of ramen right now!" Kondo enthusiastically stretched as he took a seat. "Ikumatsu-san! 2 bowls of beef ramen please!"

"I thought you said 10 bowls?" Ikumatsu asked drily as she nodded at Itou, who had taken the seat next to Kondo.

"Iya, if you or Itou would treat me, of course!" Kondo turned towards his rival captain. "What about you, Itou? Anyway, what are you doing here? It's pretty far from your school, isn't it?"

"Chicken katsu ramen please," Itou ordered, before turning back to Kondo. "Well, I was settling the paperwork for the Regionals...what about you? Have you submitted the forms to the association?"

"Ma, you know," Kondo scratched his head, smiling sheepishly, "Toushi takes care of all the paperwork, for us. Ah, what would we do without him..."

"Indeed." Itou pushed up his glasses. "He is quite the capable vice-captain. Isn't he a basketball team regular as well? Of course, your basketball team isn't as accomplished as the kendo team...but I heard they got to the Nationals last year."

"Yes, of course! That's my Toushi!" Kondo said proudly. "He can do everything and anything! I couldn't have asked for a better vice-captain…"

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"Do send my regards to Hijikata-kun and everyone else. We look forward to competing with you at the Nationals again this year."

It had turned dark by now. Both Itou and Kondo were both ready to part ways in front of the ramen restaurant.

"Same here. I bet you're looking forward to dueling with Toushi again...since you're both rivals."

"Of course," Itou smiled, but his expression remained serious. "Tell him I'm going to beat him for sure this year. Oh, and since we're on the subject of Hijikata-kun, tell him that I'm surprised he got a girlfriend. An unfriendly guy like that? I never thought it of him."

"Ahahahaha of course! Toushi- wait, what did you say?"

"Eh? You didn't know? Hmm..." Itou knitted his eyebrows. "That's strange. Well, maybe I'm wrong then."

"Iya, well.." Kondo was still reeling from the shock revelation. "Wherever did you hear that...?"

"Well, I don't really like to gossip, but..." Itou pushed up his glasses, clearly relishing the moment, "Just that while I was waiting for the train just now, I was standing behind some of your school mates and they seemed to be saying that Hijikata and somebody was a couple..."Itou shrugged. "Maybe it's another Hijikata. I'm pretty sure they said 3Z's Hijikata Toushirou though...vice-captain of the kendo team...but I could have heard wrongly..."

Kondo laughed, but unconvincingly. "Hijikata, get a girlfriend! I'm sure it's just some crazy rumour. Besides I'd be the first to know if he ever got one."

"Of course, unless he was hiding it from you for whatever reason," Itou said serenely.

"What did you say?"

"Oh, nothing," Itou put his hand up in greeting. "See you around then, Kondo." He turned to leave.

"...Itou. Wait."

"Yes?" Itou turned around again.

"Who did they say...was his girlfriend?" Kondo asked, trying to keep a straight face. "I mean, even if it was just a rumour."

"Hmm...What was the name..." Itou frowned. "Shinobi? No. Sorry, I really can't remember."

"Oh." Kondo narrowed his eyes. "Okay."

Itou cocked his head, thinking. "I did remember they mentioned that she was the kendo girls' team captain. Can't remember who that is though. Anyway, I'm late. Gotta go." Itou gave a final parting wave and hastened away.

Leaving Kondo staring blankly at him.

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Hijikata stared at his cell phone. "Ah. The battery's dead."

He had just reached home, after the rather long detour to the national kendo association's office. Rummaging around for his charger, he plugged his cellphone in and proceeded to sprawl onto his bed.

"Toushirou! The bath is getting cold!"

"Haaaaaaai," Hijikata answered his mother, and promptly fell asleep.

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Hijikata walked into class. He was unexpectedly early. No one was in class, except for a handful of people - Kagura the Chinese exchange student, Shinpachi who sat in front of him, and Yamazaki.

"Osu," he muttered as he made his way to his class. If he had been more alert, he would have noticed the strange looks his classmates were giving him. But he was too sleepy to notice.

Hijikata promptly dumped his bag on the floor and proceeded to rest his head on his arms, deciding that there was time for a little nap. As more classmates proceeded to trickle in, Hijikata slowly dozed off.

He was just about to fall into a deep sleep when -

"Hijikata-kun."

"Mm?" Hijikata lifted his head up, rubbing his eyes blearily. It was Tae, holding something out to him.

"Here. I made this for you. Please eat it."

The whole class fell quiet. Hijikata froze, staring blankly at the bento box prettily wrapped in a cherry-blossom patterned cloth being held out to him.

Right at that moment, Kondo Isao stepped into class.

Witnessing his beloved Tae handing a handmade bento to his trusted Toushi.

tbc

A/N: Hellzzzzzz yeaaaaaaaa. Now, I was just thinking. If I could make this into live action, I'd go for Nakamura Aoi for Hijikata (I love him) and the girl from Q.E.D. as Tae. Cos the hair is kind of similar. Ha ha ha! Admittedly there are probably other people who resemble them more, though.

You know, this fic is unexpectedly more popular than I had expected. I guess people reeeeeally like 3Z-gumi huh? I like it okay, it's just that since I've been in a highschoolromance! mood lately... don't think I'd have written it otherwise.