Chapter 25

"That incident 15 years ago has already passed. Don't burden the kid with something he doesn't know about," Hijikata-san said.

"Hijikata-san, did something else happened?" Yamanami-san asked, concerned.

"No why?" he replied, confused by this.

Yamanami-san sighed, "You have never cared about questioning anyone before, why the sudden changes?"

Hijikata-san let out a sigh once he understood what he meant, "Because I received Ryuunosuke's head."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Tatsunosuke? Can I call you…" he paused, too embarrass to finish.

"Call me what?" Tatsunosuke asked as they continued down the long stairs.

"Um," he hesitated, "T-Tatsu-nii."

Tatsunosuke stopped in his track and remain face forward. Tetsu realize it might be a mistake after all. "Ah, but if you don't like it then- umpf!" he was cut short by a warm embrace from Tatsunosuke. "Tatsu-nii?" he asked not even realizing he called the other like in the past.

He could hear sobbing from Tatsu. He figures Tatsu was happy about it. / Tatsu-nii… / he returned the embrace. "T-Thank you," Tatsu said trembling, "Thank you for calling me Tatsu-nii."

Tears spill from Tetsu's eyes as he clung on tighter. At that moment, he finally felt like he came home to his nii-chan at last. / I'm home… Tatsu-nii… /

XXXXXXXXXX

Yamanami-san looked away in disbelief by his words. How could Ryuunosuke, so highly skills a swordsman, died in such a death? "Who did it?" he asked in a low tone.

"That is still unknown. I already put Yamazaki to work. He'll report to me once he find any information." he replied quietly.

Yamanami-san finally looked up, "That's good. Alright, I won't asked Tetsu-kun anything, but someone will have to tell him the truth. You can't keep everything from him for ever. He'll find out sooner or later."

"Than let it be later," he interrupted, "The kid's not strong enough to avenge his parents, or to protect himself."

"So that's the reason you bought him here, to train him." Yamanami-san said quietly, almost like a whisper.

Hijikata-san adverted his gaze to the floor, "Yes. I thought that Saito-san would be able to train him in stuff that he doesn't know as well as help him complete the moves he shown so far."

"Moves?" he asked, confused.

He adverted his gaze back to him, "Yes. I don't know who taught him those moves, but so far he had shown; Ghost Whisper, Dragon Slice, and Dragon Tornado."

Yamanami-san gasp in surprised once he recognize those name, "W-Who taught him those? Those moves are only for killing!" he panic.

"I myself don't really know. He won't say who taught him, but it can't be Ryuunosuke either. He would never taught his son or anyone else something that dangerous." he explained.

Yamanami-san took a deep breath to calm himself, "Why would you want him to complete those moves? He's too young to know the truth behind those moves!" he said, panicking again.

"I'm not planning to tell him!" Hijikata-san replied angrily for being misunderstood, "I only want him to protect himself, not tell him the truth until he's ready. I would never make him bear something that painful when he's not ready. I won't allow it."

Yamanami-san adverted his gaze, "You change Hijikata-san," he said after Hijikata-san stop for air, "You really have change."

XXXXXXXXXX

They finally parted after a brotherly moment. Tatsu ruffle through his hair and playfully nudge his head. Tetsu growl and laugh playfully. "Tetsunosuke-"

"Just call me Tetsu," he corrected him.

Tatsu smile softly and ruffel his hair, "Ok, Tetsu it is. Well then, Let's go out to buy some supplies and spend a little time together."

Tetsu nodded excitedly and happily, "Let's go!"

XXXXXXXXXX

Okita-san sighed heavily from boredom. "Why the long sigh, Soji," Kondou-san asked as he enter the shop from the back door.

"I miss the two puppy," he replied, still bored, "It's so quiet without them. And Yamazaki-kun still working on his mission." he let out another sigh, "I wonder, had they made it to Kyoto yet?"

"They should," Kondou-san replied, "Don't worry, Toshi's with Tetsunosuke-kun."

"That's what worry me the most," he whispered.

"Huh? Did you say something?" he asked, thinking he missed something Okita-san said.

"Nope!" he answered. Just then his head shot up in realization, "Kondou-san!"

"Y-Yes?" he replied in shocked by Okita-san sudden enthusiasm.

"Can you tell me about the Incident that happened 15 years ago?" he asked very much interested. Kondou-san looked oddly at him. Why would Okita-san suddenly bought it up, and most importantly, how in the world did he know about it?

"Soji, how did y-"

"Hijikata-san told me to asked you!" he interrupted him, "he said you'll be able to tell me more than he can."

"That's true but," he thought as he decide if he should tell or not.

"Please do tell." They sprung around to find Susumu in his ninja uniform. He continued, "I would like to know what happened as well. When I was in the Ichimura household, I found out a few information on this incident that indicates the involvements of Ichimura Ryuunosuke, but the incident itself was highly classfied, in which I cannot find."

Kondou-san sighed in surrender. There was really no point in hiding it from them. "The incident 15 years ago," he began, "was the annihilation of the Curse Child."