You are not what I had thought, your allegiance can't be bought

Two weeks had passed since he'd become a prisoner of the Merry Men, as they liked to call themselves. The thought wasn't too abstract, they really did laugh a lot, despite the fact that they appeared to spend every day avoiding capture. The group would swell in size sometimes as comrades joined the band for a short amount of time, before waving goodbye to go who knows where. Other times, the group seemed intimately small. There was always a tight band of people around Gintoki. He was the lure that pulled in the fish. Hijikata was reminded of Kondo – a man with charisma that drew others to him. Gintoki's power appeared to be even stronger. Even Hijikata was being pulled along with his current. He couldn't put a finger on why.

Curiosity? He wanted to know what he was thinking, where he was going to go next. In their brief conversations, they sometimes delved so deep into philosophy and morality that Hijikata began to question himself. He didn't feel like Gintoki was trying to persuade him any which way. It was more like the man was probing him out of an interest equivalent to his own. He was just exploring the world through conversation.

Then, fear? One of the reasons the Sheriff had such a following was the fear he instilled into others. The most powerful always stand on top, and no one would question Gintoki's strength in combat. Up until now, Hijikata had only witnessed him get involved in minor scuffles with bandits a couple of times. His arrows flew straight and hit with unrelenting speed, striking the target with unparalleled accuracy. His legend was like wildfire, travelling fast and far. There was no one in this forest that had not heard his name. Once, when Hijikata was taken down to the river to wash, Gintoki had been there too, already shirtless and knee deep in the strong current. His skin was like snow. It had the same soft glow to it. The lines of his collarbone cut deep across his chest, then rolled over built shoulder muscles. His frame was as broad and strong as a tree trunk. Hijikata easily traced the line of his spine, a small valley in between prominent back muscles that led down to the dimples above his trousers. He was strong.

But it wasn't fear that drew these people to him. And they weren't there for some sort of guaranteed safety, like birds perched upon the horns of a bull. What could it be?

As Hijikata had expected, the Sheriff had not ceased the search. Gintoki had decided not to capture any more men for now – it wasn't a great strategy to hold so many people in captivity when they were barely able to feed themselves. They never seemed to worry about anything, though, even when some days a few of them had to go without eating. Hijikata noticed that regardless of how he heard others complain about their empty stomachs, his plate was never empty. Some days it dwindled, but regardless, he was always fed.

One night, Hijikata shuffled onto his side, his bound wrists making it difficult to get comfortable. His sleeping arrangements had evolved into a rug on the floor with a scratchy blanket. They had stopped guarding him, but he knew that scouts keeping watch would shoot an arrow straight through him if he was caught trying to escape. The large fire the group had been cooking on still had a buzz of life around it as the sun slowly set. Instinctively, Hijikata knew Gintoki was there. The voices seemed to bounce around the forest, conversation flowing easily. The feeling of companionship … he sighed, the vision of his men fading from his grasp. He tried to hold on … they edged further from his consciousness, like water running through fingertips. There would come a day when it would be impossible to return. For one, the Sheriff would suspect him. And second, his position would have been taken by someone else. He couldn't just go back and expect things to carry on where he left them.

"Cold?" A voice said, snapping him awake. It was Gintoki, holding a wooden bowl in one hand, his head cocked to the side with the shine of the moon catching his silver hair. "You shivered."

"No," he sat up. It was an effort with his hands tied. "Not cold."

"Here," Gintoki handed him the dish, filled with berries and slices of fruit. "Dessert."

"Has everyone else eaten?"

Gintoki raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly. "They have." Hijikata appeared suspicious but took the bowl without argument. "You look down."

"Mm not," he said, mouth full already.

"Okay, okay," Gintoki raised his hands and plopped himself beside Hijikata. "Didn't expect it to be that easy."

"… What?"

"You."

Hijikata refused to be caught up in his flow this time and decided to ignore him, munching happily on the fresh fruit. It was a nice change to charred meat and dry grains. Gintoki seemed to be contemplating something carefully, his expression controlled as he watched Hijikata inhale the contents of the dish. Once he had finished and began sucking on his fingers, he finally spoke.

"Can I ask you something?"

Hijikata was immediately suspicious and his body language shut Gintoki off from prying. "What?"

"Well, I suppose I phrased that wrong. I have something to tell you, but I want you to listen without panicking."

"I'm already panicking. What is it?"

"Your commander … is on trial." The dish clattered from Hijikata's hand. "An execution order came out for you. The Sheriff wants you killed on sight. You've been labelled a traitor."

"But why does that …?" Hijikata's mind raced through possibilities. He'd expected something like this to happen. The Sheriff had never liked him anyway. A few times before, he'd put his head on the chopping block with his actions. He was far too overt about his hatred for the man. What he hadn't anticipated is that Kondo would be put on trial. He tried to think, why? The answer came to him all too clearly.

"I think you've realised," Gintoki continued, his voice soft. "Your commander refused to obey the order. He's on trial for treachery. Of course, the sentence is …"

"Hanging."

"… What I'm going to tell you now … I haven't even told my men."

Hijikata was too preoccupied with the vision of Kondo on the platform in the castle square, his neck … in a noose. He was barely listening.

"Hey, listen to me." Gintoki rested his hand on Hijikata's shoulder, startling him out of his trance. "We're going to save your commander."

"W-…what?"

"This is something we can use." Gintoki continued, his red eyes burning brightly with exhilaration. "The Sheriff's men team up with Robin Hood to defeat the Sheriff. We can finally push that obnoxious old crook out of his seat. You want to save him, don't you?"

"Of course, I-,"

"Will your men think the same?"

Hijikata did not even need to think about that. "Yes."

"Then …" Gintoki placed his hands around Hijikata's wrists, his fingers clasping the knot in the rope binding them. "Can I trust you?" His hands were hot and Hijikata flushed because he was trembling. Partly through anger, partly through fear. Kondo could not die. He had to get there in time. Gintoki gripped harder, squeezing Hijikata's hands. His face moved closer. "Can I trust you?" He began to pull on the knot. Hijikata bit his lip, lost, confused, despairing. His gaze fell to his lap. Trust his enemy? This man was his enemy. "Hey," the man said, pushing his forehead against Hijikata's so that he could look nowhere else but into Gintoki's eyes which glowed like molten glass. He felt the heat of Gintoki's breath on his skin, sending ripples of goosebumps down his arms. "Can I…?" The knot slid undone, sudden relief flushing Hijikata's wrists as the tension disappeared. The rope fell away. Neither of them moved. The question was still on Gintoki's lips, open and waiting. Hijikata reached up and grabbed Gintoki's hair in his fists, pulling him aggressively onto his lips. Gintoki made a muffled 'mph!' of surprise. Then, his hands grasped at Hijikata's shirt, nearly tearing the material.

They fought for control for several minutes, biting, scratching, pulling, pushing until every inch of Hijikata's lips was throbbing gently. Gintoki broke their kiss first, gasping lightly, dropping one hand to the floor to steady himself.

"I take that as a yes?"

…

Hijikata hadn't been informed of the entire plan. Initially, he thought he could not be trusted. He supposed that even after all the moments he had shared with the Silver Archer, every quiet night under the silver of the moonlight curled into the warmth of another body … he still wasn't trusted. Despite every moment he laid there, guilt hanging over him, the sense of betrayal eating away at his mind – and then Gintoki nuzzling his neck as though to remind him, to reassure him. Still, he wasn't trusted. His hands were no longer tied, and he could wander as far from camp as he pleased – no one considered him a prisoner anymore. Once Gintoki had said the word, they all conceded without complaint. When Gintoki had deliberately evaded his questioning about how they were actually going to save Kondo, something cold had tightened his chest.

But his worries were scattered to the winds when he overheard Kagura and a young male discussing the operation in hushed tones. They complained without reservation about Gintoki, calling him every name under the sun. What they said staggered Hijikata – they didn't know the plan either. No one did. They had all been told the same information.

"That silver perm is definitely plotting something," Kagura complained, chewing on something sticky and unidentifiable. She ground her teeth. "That probably means he's going to do something stupid."

"It has always been that way, Kagura," the young boy sighed, ramming as many items as he could into his satchel. "And it has always been our job to stop him from doing something stupid."

"Or save him afterwards," Kagura spat, her frown low. "Oi, Mr Knight!" Hijikata jolted when he realised that she was talking to him. He was hesitant to deliver his usual scowl – she was a kid after all. Even though he'd definitely seen her fell a tree the other day with just her fist.

"What do you want?"

"If this is a trap for Gin-chan, I'll tear you a new hole in your cheeks."

"Don't worry," he said, unable to conceal the pessimism in his eyes – how he wished this wasn't happening. "This nightmare is real."

"It would help us if you can provide as much information as possible about the layout of the castle and the guard patterns. Every minor detail will help." The boy said, casting Hijikata a polite smile. "I'm Shinpachi, by the way. I don't think we've been formally introduced. I hope you don't mind but I'll be calling you Tosshi, since that's what Gin-san does."

He did mind, actually. That nickname was reserved for a certain few. He did notice that the whole crew had been using that name though. As soon as Gintoki had begun to use it, they all did.

Speaking of whom, Hijikata spotted a flash of silver hair appear nearby. He was drilling a man's head with one knuckle, shouting something he couldn't quite make out. The man he was with had long dark hair, extremely slick and healthy that fell about his shoulders. He had seen that person around and knew he was the Rampaging Noble, Katsura Kotarou. The thought that he was so close to two men he'd been chasing as enemies made him laugh – he'd been fighting against these two for what felt like his entire life. There were three main enemies to the Sheriff, and two of them were here, completely relaxed and open to attack.

How things had changed.

Katsura said something to Gintoki, who responded by whacking him over the head. Their conversation floated on a breeze and he caught a few words, "Zura, is your head completely empty?"

"It's not Zura, it's Katsura."

Hijikata was reminded of his men. The way Gintoki interacted with his comrades was too familiar and it hurt. He could see Kondo there instead, ruffling hair and patting backs. His commander was always smiling broadly, apart from the few times he'd impart his wisdom on the troubled. More than once, Hijikata had been saved by Kondo's words. The idea that such a man could be taken from this world … was unthinkable. He was doing the right thing. No matter what he had to do, who he had to cooperate with, he would do it. Out of everyone in this world, Kondo had to survive.

"Tosshi!" Gintoki called and he realised just how strange the name felt from someone else's mouth. "Hope you've got a spare pair of underwear packed!"

"Die, you idiot."

He walked over, Katsura beside him. Katsura was watching him with calm eyes, offering no hint as to his thoughts. He returned the stare, unwilling to back down.

"Are you ready to go?" Gintoki asked. Hijikata flourished his hands to demonstrate his lack of possessions. It wasn't like he'd been carrying much when he got kidnapped.

"All I'm missing is a plan."

"I've told you the plan," Gintoki waved a hand dismissively. Kagura glanced at Shinpachi, sucking in her lower lip in a grimace. "We bust in there and save your commander. If we set off early evening, we should arrive near the castle by morning. We take a short rest, then break in just before the execution."

"Your faces are notorious, how are you expecting to break in?"

"It's a public execution. Zura is the master of disguises. He and a few of the less-known guys will head in with the crowds. The problem will be the guards, but you've told us where they'll be."

"And?"

"And we bust them up." Gintoki shrugged. "Obviously just rough em' up a little. I wouldn't kill your men – I've told you, we're not murderers."

But that was one of his biggest worries. Hijikata knew his men well; he'd trained them himself. They were formidable opponents and it would be much harder to stage an operation and only 'incapacitate' them. Killing them would be the safest option – a flash of an arrow into their chest before anyone noticed they were down. Yet Gintoki had never even considered that. Deep down, Hijikata knew they could not win if they did not kill.

He hadn't resolved himself to turn against his men.

A hand rested on his head and ruffled his bangs. "Don't worry so much about it," Gintoki smirked. "We've been running rings around you guys for years. Just trust us."

"In a head to head battle you have no idea how it will turn out."

"I do," Gintoki's voice was soft and steady, filled with unfounded confidence. "Don't you think your men will be wanting to free Kondo, too?" He hadn't thought of that. For some reason, the idea that he wouldn't be the only one staging a coup hadn't crossed his mind. He'd been so focussed on Kondo and how he could help. Sougo would never let this happen. Though they'd lost their commander and vice-commander, Sougo would rally them together. They had never needed a set of orders to know what to do – they always acted according to their instincts.

"If you've got nothing left to pack," Gintoki interrupted his thoughts, "then get some rest. You won't sleep well tonight."

He probably wouldn't sleep well now either.