Dark Side of the Sun
:Chapter Two:

Kondou Isami was generally a jovial man, known for being serious only when it was absolutely necessary. It was also known that he tended not to take Hijikata Toshizou very seriously, a fact which Hijikata did not find amusing. As the Vice-Commander waited outside Kondou’s door to be let in, he hoped he would not be brushed aside so easily. Souji’s existence was at stake.

Commander Kondou slid the door aside to reveal a very haggard, bloodied, and altogether terrible-looking Vice-Commander. Not that Hijikata was constantly overdressed – in fact, most of the time it was enough to have him out of bed and wearing fundoshi. “Kondou-san, do you have a moment? I have a matter of serious importance to discuss with you.” Since visiting Saitou Hajime, Hijikata’s voice had turned hoarse, and it surprised him. “Of course, Hijikata-san. Come in.” The Vice-Commander glanced suspiciously around the courtyard before entering, and he noticed Kondou’s eyebrows knitted together as he passed through the doorway.

The rice-paper door clacked shut, and Hijikata felt Kondou’s uncharacteristically serious gaze on his back. “What is this about, Hijikata-san?” Well, at least he already understood the gravity of the situation. His own face must have given quite a bit away. “It’s about Okita-san…” Hijikata began hesitantly. Kondou frowned before responding. “That’s right, I had heard Souji was injured in Ikedaya. Ichimura-kun was circulating a bit of news that he saw you take Souji away after the battle, but he wasn’t sure whether he was alive or dead.” There was a pause. “Is Souji dead?” It was Hijikata’s turn to frown, though there wasn’t much farther for the corners of his mouth to go. “Souji’s not dead. I…took him to Saitou-san.” Forever passed in the space of a few seconds before Kondou spoke again, and his voice was low and secretive. “Oh, Toshizou…do you know what you’ve done?” Hijikata flinched. He felt like a child being reprimanded. “Sit, please. We need to discuss this.”

Though tea would have been very welcome for this sort of discussion, it was better that they had no eavesdroppers. Kondou sat on the floor to one side of his low table, and gestured for Hijikata to take his seat on the opposite side. He seemed to have no trouble taking his time, even though a moment ago he had sounded urgent. The Commander produced a long, thin kiseru from somewhere in the folds of his shirt, and a bag of stringy tobacco. As he lit it, he finally looked up at Hijikata again and began to speak. “You have been acquainted with Saitou-san for some time, but you are too young to have seen the last person he tried to…save.” Kondou took a puff from the pipe thoughtfully. “It was several years ago, and the details are not as important as the result. But you need to know that Saitou-san does not create good things. He is only capable of creating things like himself – demons that survive only on blood, demons that live in the night, that are physically unable to live by the sun. And these demons, the kyuuketsuki, are impossible to control.”

He paused again, took another puff. “Souji is one of these creatures now. And the result I mentioned…we had to kill the last one. He became traitorous when consumed by his own lust for blood. Vice-Commander Yamanami probably remembers the incident, and it is likely that he will recognize similar characteristics in Souji.” Yet another pause, and Hijikata wished he had his own kiseru with him. The Commander continued, “It is best if the rest of the men believe him to be ill. Otherwise, saving him might have been in vain. Keep a close watch on him. Now go, get some rest.” Hijikata nodded and rose, but said nothing. At the door, he paused and looked over his shoulder. “Kondou-san…thank you. I will try my best.”

Once outside, Hijikata clenched his jaw and put his fists to his forehead. He could feel congealed blood in his hair, and he thought of Souji. The blood might have even been Souji’s, he didn’t know. But he did know that with his promise to try his best – to contain Souji, to keep him safe, to do his duty – he was turning his back on many of the principles of the Shinsengumi.

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<sup>Notes on Factual Content:

1. Fundoshi – this is an article of traditional Japanese clothing, best explained as underwear, or a loincloth.
2. Ichimura-kun – This refers to Ichimura Tetsunosuke, a young member of the Shinsengumi who was involved in the battle at Ikedaya.
3. Kiseru – this is a type of uniquely Japanese tobacco pipe. It has a small, usually metal bowl and a long stem, depending on the period. The pipes of this period in history looked as described.
4. Vice-Commander Yamanami – Yamanami Keisuke was the other Vice-Commander under Commander Kondou Isami.</sup>

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Dark Side of the Sun
Dark Side of the Sun Ch. 4
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