Nishihonganji: Third Chapter

Timeline: Tennis no Ohjisama AU, takes place in about 1865 (Bakumatsu)

Rating: PG-15 for now, due to some following warnings

Pairing: Tezuka x Fuji

Summary: When he was asked to accompany his mentor to the Shinsengumi Headquarter in Nishihonganji, he never thought his life would take a very different turn.

Warning: some Japanese terms, a bit historical knowledge is needed, and poorly unbetaed

At the age of twenty-nine, Tezuka was acknowledged by Matsumoto-hougen as one of the most capable doctors in Japan. For Tezuka, his mentor's trust was something beyond price he would not trade anything with. He was very glad to have such trust from the shogun's doctor himself, and Tezuka swore—one thing he rarely did—he would never betray Matsumoto-hougen's trust in him.

Thus, for the sake of his vow, Tezuka hardly flinched as his eyes met the man's before him.

The man blinked. "...Tezuka?"

Tezuka just nodded briefly.

"Why you—"

"He's my trusted friend," Matsumoto-hougen said, appearing from behind the sliding door, "and used to be a disciple of mine, too. Sorry to keep you waiting, Hijikata."

"Ah, it's not a big problem, Sensei."

Matsumoto-hougen took a sitting place next to Tezuka. "This isn't something I was able to talk unreservedly yesterday in Nishihonganji, considering your position in the group, but you must have known why you're here, ne, Hijikata?"

All the time Tezuka had known Hijikata Toshizou, he knew him as a very rational and calm man—and it was proved soon that Hijikata was no difference than ever.

"Yes, Sensei. My body, isn't it?"

Grasping where the conversation might lead to, Tezuka knew at once he was here because his mentor allowed him to be.

"Let me just get straight to the point, ne? You once had suffered from rougai (1), hadn't you, Hijikata?"

It turned out to surprise Tezuka just like when his parents had wanted him to marry Sachiko six years ago.

A small sigh escaped the Shinsengumi's vice-commander's lips. "It's common in my family, Sensei. My elder sister and brother, my father before I was born, and my mother... They all died because of it. Yet, I don't think I'm going to die from the same reason, too. Six month ago, my doctor said I was perfectly cured."

"I know you're fine now, Hijikata, though the shape of your lungs is a bit atypical. Your breathing is normal, and that's a good sign."

Hijikata's lips curved into a slight smile. "Thank you, Sensei."

"Now, now, since our business is done and I still have another patients, I'll let the two of you have some times together. I'll excuse myself, Hijikata, Tezuka."

Tezuka did not know what to speak after Matsumoto-hougen left them together, that is; until Hijikata began the talk.

"It's been a quite long time, Tezuka."

"Hijikata."

"You don't look so happy to meet me, though."

Now he realized why Matsumoto-hougen let him listen to his conversation with Hijikata. Stupid me for not realizing it sooner. Sensei just knows me too well. "In Nanbu's reports from yesterday's health inspection, there are two notes on consumption (2). I guess you've already known whose the other one is."

A vein on Hijikata's temple twitched; a particular sign Tezuka was all too familiar with. The vice-commander crossed his hand on his chests and slipped both of his hands inside his black kimono sleeves. For a long time, he just sat silently like a statue, then, "Souji's."

"You are still the most foolish man I've ever known to walk on earth." Tezuka gritted his teeth in anger. "You let your own subordinate get abused in other things unrelated to sword fighting, and you still call yourself a leader? I'm wrong to think that's the biggest stupidity of yours. This, Hijikata-fukuchou (3), is beyond stupid."

"Go on and beat me with words, Tezuka," Hijikata snarled, "because you know I can't use my sword here. That's why you feel it's alright to mock me. Really, Tezuka, yellow suits you far better than another colour."

Clenching his fists, Tezuka spoke tightly, "I was your doctor, but you never told me about how things had been going between you and Sou—Okita."

Hijikata noticed the slip but did not say anything about it. "You haven't changed a bit since those days in Tama, have you? Didn't I tell you that a martial artist always knew his body better than anyone else did? Ne, Tezuka?"

"Do you really wish to really become the demon, then?"

"I am a demon. I turn Souji into a demon, too. I know that."

"You—"

"Tezuka." Hijikata raised a hand. "I thank you for your concern, my boyhood friend, but I can't let you tell me what to do with the Shinsengumi. You're an outsider and a civilian nevertheless. Please don't let us demons bother you and your already hectic life. That's for your own good."

.-.-.-.

He just remembered that it was too late to come home for his daughter's already forgotten birthday when Hijikata left his rent house in the evening. So, he sent a courier to his house in Edo (4) to give his daughter his best wishes and apology also. He was still angry, and he even felt angrier now that he decided he had a more important matter to tend than Yukihira's birthday.

Putting his pen down, Matsumoto-hougen quitted his daruma doll drawing; Nanbu stopped too with his jaw hung open.

"Did I hear you right, Tezuka?"

"Yes, Sensei, you heard me right." Tezuka bowed lower, his forehead almost touched the tatami. "Matsumoto-sensei, please ask me to stay near the Shinsengumi as a doctor."

.-.-.-.

Kondou Isami-kyoukuchou (5) looked very happy now that his group finally had a health caretaker. Matsumoto-hougen promised to pay visit twice or thrice a week for the time he was in Kyoto—also to teach the Yamazaki Susumu he had formerly found interested in medic, and the thing the commander was going to let his men know was more pleasing.

Clad in his black kimono, Kondou looked almost regal as he stood before the rows of his men, Hijikata beside him. Tezuka, standing a bit far to Kondou, watched the rows of Shinsengumi's leaders dispassionately. Okita was not there; Hijikata said he was having his routine patrol and would be back after sunset.

"Fellows all," Kondou's voice, loud and clear, silenced the buzz of his men's talking in waiting for the announcement, "hereby I announce Tezuka Kunimitsu-sensei as a temporal doctor for us."

.-.-.-.

Notes:

A little note on Nishihonganji... It actually means Nishihongan Temple. It is a temple in Kyoto used as the Shinsengumi's headquarter after the seppuku of Commander Yamanami Keisuke. Thus, it makes Nishihonganji the second headquarter after the first Mibu's Yagi House. It is said that Hijikata tactfully wanted them to move there to put a halt to the loyalist's movement (the Chousuu's Sonnou Joui party).

(1) A lung disease particularly similar to tuberculosis.

(2) That time's name for the tuberculosis we know nowadays.

(3) Vice-commander.

(4) Tokyo's name at that time.

(5) General Commander.

NEXT

"Souji, you know I can't forget you."

"You're too good of a man, Tezuka-san. It's a pity you're here amid us demons."

"Saa... we meet again, Tezuka-sensei."