Souji and Mr Hijikata were already there when Susumu and Tetsu arrived at the sparring hall. Souji smiled and greeted them warmly, while Mr Hijikata looked grumpy.
"What's wrong, Mr Hijikata?" Tetsu asked. Souji smiled at the Vice Commander and looked at Tetsu.
"He's upset because I forgot to take my medicine again." He said with a light giggle. Hijikata sighed.
"Souji, you need to take it or-"
"Or I won't get strong, yes, yes.." he finished for him, waving a hand dismissively. Hijikata rolled his eyes then directed his glare at Tetsu.
"Will you be joining the activities, Ichimura?" he asked.
"Uh, yes - I want to show Susumu how strong I am now." He said with a grin. Souji grinned back.
"Oh, how exciting! Hey, Tetsu, why don't you spar with Mr. Hijikata?" he asked, a glint of mischief in his big amethyst eyes. His cropped hair was now a little longer and he'd forced Heisuke to help him style it, so now it was cropped at the back and he had bangs over his forehead that got longer to shape his face. He was looking healthier by the day and his smile was just as bright as ever.
Hijikata sighed, seeing Tetsu grin at the suggestion.
"Fine, I suppose. Get ready, Ichimura." He muttered, making Souji grin wider and he clapped excitedly. Tetsu nodded and went off to change into his sparring gear. Hijikata sighed again and looked at Souji begrudgingly, who flashed him his most charming smile. To say his heart melted would be an understatement so he just sighed, yet again, and went to get ready too. Souji giggled, grinning at Susumu, who smiled.
"It's good to see you back, Susumu." He said.
"You too, Souji, I'm glad you're doing better." He replied, realizing how much he'd missed his old friend. They'd both joined the Shinsengumi around the same time, Souji becoming a page to Mr Hijikata while Susumu and his sister, Ayu, followed their family path of Watching. When Souji was 9 and training to become a killer, Susumu was 7 and training to sit and move quietly and gather information. Later, he would learn how to please a man, while Souji learned how to decapitate one in one move.
"You and Tetsu are still great friends, huh?" Souji asked, smiling.
"Yes, I'm glad he hasn't changed much…well, besides physically…" he said with a small smirk, glancing over at the now well-built Tetsunosuke. Souji laughed and nodded, his attention attracted by Hijikata returning, having quickly changed into his kendo uniform. Susumu noticed and smiled knowlingly.
"Alright, Ichimura, let's get this over with." The Vice-Commander said gruffly. Those still using the training area moved to the sides to watch, low murmurs filling the room. Tetsu nodded and they took their positions facing each other. Souji giggled softly, watching excitedly with his hands together.
Susumu watched with less enthusiasm, though he found himself struck by how…impressive Tetsu looked. He had the determination in his eyes he always had, the grin of exhilaration on his face. The blue eyes met dark and the grin widened when he saw Susumu looking at him. Susumu smiled and Tetsu looked back at Hijikata, standing square towards him, holding his sword in front of him.
Hijikata did the same, facing each other, their wooden katanas drawn and almost touching. They pulled down their masks, the mesh to protect their faces, and their muscles rippled as they both became stone as they bowed to each other. Then they squatted almost to kneeling on the floor, and in a flash they were fighting.
Tetsu lunged first, his sword pointed at Hijikata's chest but the older man blocked it easily, stepping back quick as a cat, and swung his own sword low, coming up to almost hit the top of Tetsu's mask but Tetsu blocked it, hooking his stick under Hijikata's and almost disarming him. Hijikata kept his grip though and they stepped close together, their sticks locked as each struggled to get the upper hand.
Souji giggled at the sight, finding it very amusing to see Hijikata grappling with a suddenly huge Tetsu. Then he felt a cough building and his throat tightened as he struggled against it, knowing it was upset Hijikata and ruin everyone's fun. Everyone else in the training hall was shouting and cheering for whomever they wanted to win, shouting encouragements to the sparrers.
Susumu felt a soft grip on his sleeve and he looked to his left to see Souji, hand over his mouth and skinny body shaking.
"S-Susumu…could you help me outside, please..?" he asked in a raspy, whispering voice, his eyes half lidded, his face pale. Susumu nodded and stood up quickly, ignoring the pain in his side. He helped Souji up gently, his body was weak and his breathing tight. "Thank you…I just n-need some air..." he said softly, his face in a strained smile, a hand on his own chest. Susumu nodded and helped him outside, arm around him to stop him falling.
They went to a bench outside the hall and Susumu sat Souji down on it carefully. The air outside was cool and it seemed to bring some breath back to Souji, his breathing becoming more wheezy than raspy. Susumu sat beside him, rubbing his bony back gently as he took some deep breaths. He let out a few controlled coughs but there was no blood and, though they seemed to hurt him, Souji seemed better.
"Th-thank you, Susumu…I didn't want to spoil it." He said breathlessly, smiling at his friend. The younger man smiled back, nodding.
"You're welcome, Souji…are you feelin' better?" he asked. Souji nodded, sitting up straight and testing his breathing.
"Much, yes… Mr Hijikata was right to be angry at me…that horrible medicine he makes really does work…" he mumbled, more to himself than to Susumu. The Watcher looked up at this point, and nudged Souji slightly.
"You can tell him that yourself.." he said softly, and Souji looked up to see Hijikata himself running towards him. He was still wearing his Kendo gear, though didn't have his mask.
"Souji!" he cried. "Are you alright?! We finished the match and you were gone!" he demanded once he was close enough, staring at Souji with wide eyes.
"Yes…I just needed some air.." he said with a weak smile, still a little breathless. "W-who won..?" he asked, but Hijikata just looked angry. Susumu looked past Hijikata to see Tetsu and a few of the others watching from the training hall entrance. He excused himself to his superiors and went to join him, Tetsu asking if Souji was ok. Susumu just nodded, looking back towards them.
Hijikata sighed and put his arm around Souji to help him stand, Souji's hands on Hijikata's chest as he assessed his own strength.
"Back to bed, Souji, you know the rules." He said with gentle sternness, and Souji rolled his eyes, but obeyed.
They got back to Souji's room, and Hijikata insisted Souji lie down while he made some herb tea. Souji half obeyed as sat on his futon with a sigh, his lungs hurting, and watched Hijikata crush the herbs before adding the hot water. He then handed Souji the tea and sat beside him. "Drink all of it." He instructed. Souji blew on the steaming liquid before sipping it. It was a sharp, bitter taste, far away from his favored sweets, but he drank ever drop dutifully, already feeling the soothing effects as he handed the cup back to Hijikata. Toshizou inspected the contents and, satisfied by its emptiness, put it down.
"Who won the match?" Souji asked him again, once the ache in his lungs had lessened. Hijikata sighed deeply, rolling his eyes.
"Technically…Ichimura." He said, and Souji grinned, but stopped himself laughing to prevent another attack. "But only because I was distracted by your absence…" he sighed, then smiled at Souji. "You really scared me." He admittedly, making Souji smile.
"Don't I always?" he asked, making Hijikata chuckle. Souji leaned forward and kissed Hijikata gently, their lips barely touching. Toshi instantly pressed his own lips closer, his large hand moving round to hold the small of Souji's back, his other hand find the delicate jaw. Souji's hands settled on Toshi's shoulders, thumbs kneading at the tight muscles.
They'd kissed a few times before, always chaste and soft, Hijikata still extremely wary of Souji's fragile health. Any kind of breathlessness was a danger for his healing lungs, and kissing any more than a few seconds caused this. They parted quickly, Hijikata leaning away quickly, leaving Souji looking sadly at him. He wanted to kiss Toshi more, deeper, taste him, and he knew Toshizou wanted the same, but it would be too harsh on his lungs. Hijikata saw the sadness in Souji's eyes and pulled him into a hug, feeling his bones through his kimono.
"Soon, Souji…when your lungs are stronger, I promise… You almost died…I want you to be healthy." He said and Souji hugging him back, burying his face in the warm, heady scent of Toshi's neck.
"I know…I just wish I already was…" he said softly. When they parted, he was smiling. "Susumu and Testu are getting close, ne?" he asked. Hijikata saw he was changing the subject on purpose, suppressing the feelings of want, but he nodded, chuckling.
"Indeed… Susumu had some trouble towards the end of his mission, I'm hoping he will stay here for a while to recover." Hijikata said, serious again. Souji frowned.
"What sort of trouble?" he asked. He knew the nature of Susumu's work, knew how Susumu got his information, the lengths he went to infiltrate the enemy strongholds and gain the trust of the leaders. It took a toll on him, as it had with Ayu and countless others before them, even if he was an extremely effective spy.
"He was attacked escaping the stronghold, but it didn't affect the mission." He said. "I'm sure spending time with Testu will be very good for him." He said, smiling reassuringly. Souji smiled and nodded, taking Hijikata's hand. Toshizou smiled and kissed him again, gentle as always, before telling Souji to nap for a little while.
"Stay with me?" Souji asked, looking at him with those huge eyes, and Toshizou was utterly powerless. He nodded curtly, and lay down beside Souji on the futon, wrapping his arms protectively around him. Souji lay on his side, facing Toshi, one arm under his own head, one hand on Hijikata's cheek. "Toshi…I love you…" he said softly. Hijikata kissed him, pulling him close.
"I love you, Souji…so much…" he said. They both fell asleep, safe and warm together.