Chapter Text
Hijikata stood in front of the ranks of Shinsengumi, hoping the anger in his expression increased his intimidation factor enough to make up for being out of uniform. Wearing only his dress shirt and pants on duty he felt almost naked, but that would soon change. Someone was going to pay for this.
“Whoever has been stealing all of my clothes,” he demanded, “had better come forward now, and maybe I’ll give you the mercy of committing seppuku rather than being tortured by me.”
A slightly manic expression graced Hijikata’s face as he drew his blade to prove a point. A few of the men before him flinched, and the scent of distress in the courtyard became stronger.
They were right to be afraid because someone had taken not just one, but all of his uniform jackets, vests, and cravats not to mention a few pairs of pants and his off duty kimono. Clearly this was some attempt to undermine him by making him look unprofessional. In most cases like this, Hijikata would immediately blame Sougo, but thieving his wardrobe didn’t seem devious enough for the younger alpha.
His eyes narrowed as he took in the aforementioned alpha’s amused grin. Maybe he was missing something, and this was part of a larger scheme. The kid had set up an elaborate saw scenario just to torment him in the past, so Hijikata wouldn’t put it passed him.
One of the men hesitantly took a step forward. Hijikata’s attention immediately snapped to him, and he asked, “what do you have to say for yourself?”
The beta scratched the back of his head, likely a nervous tick. “I don’t know if it was any of us sir. A few of us have noticed some weird stuff going on in the barracks lately.”
Some of the other Shinsengumi nodded in agreement before others began to add onto the story.
“The other night I saw a figure turn a corner, but when I looked it was gone.”
“I heard footsteps walking in the corridor, but there was no one when I checked.”
“I heard quiet humming, but before I could identify the tune it stopped.”
“A door I know I closed was open when I returned.”
“The strawberry ice cream I bought was gone when I went to eat it.”
A hand suddenly touched Hijikata’s shoulder, and he jumped whipping around to see it was only Sougo. “What’s wrong Hijikata? Afraid of the barracks ghost?” The young officer taunted, his eyes glinting in amusement.
Damn him. And damn ghosts. Really, who in their right mind wouldn’t be afraid of the undead? What would ghosts even need his clothes for? Some sort of curse? Nope. Hijikata refused to acknowledge that possibility, pushing away all thoughts of hordes of bloody phantoms chanting around a pile of his laundry.
“G-ghosts? They aren’t real,” he replied. “And even if they were they can’t wear clothes, so there! Besides last time the ghost just turned out to be some weird mosquito amanto. That seems more likely.”
Hijikata turned his attention back to the rest of the men. “Enough of this. We’re doubling the night guard around the barracks until the clothes thief is caught. Now, back to work!”
*****
It was a good day. The temperature was just right, and Gin had managed to snatch the last copy of Jump before the hemmroids ninja. He was currently thumbing through it while returning home to his latest obsession, a large pile of assorted laundry he’d gathered.
Gin wasn’t really sure why he’d taken to stealing, correction borrowing, people’s clothes, but it probably had something to do with the whole ‘omega’ thing. The thought made him grimace. He’d never had time for his second gender. There were always more important things to do, for example, reading Jump. Usually he stayed on suppressants, but society had changed a lot since the amanto came, and hell maybe it was about time come out as an omega. The urgency he usually felt to renew his subscription asap just hadn’t been there this time around. Funds were tight as usual and poor gin could barely even afford his jump let alone expensive suppressants. He sighed dramatically. What was the world coming to?
Maybe he’d pick up some more next week, if he felt like it. He’d already been off of them a few days. Besides, obtaining the clothes had become pretty entertaining. In particular, navigating the shingsengumi’s barracks. It felt like he was on a stealth mission in a video game. Last raid he’d obtained a gallon of strawberry ice cream which was clearly the end of the dungeon treasure. His collection did feel like it was finally completed after all.
Gin contentedly hummed the mission impossible theme song to himself, as he’d taken to doing on his quests, when he ran into something or should he say someone.
“Oy! Perm head! Watch where you’re walking idiot!”
Hijikata stood in front of him, his face the embodiment of an angry exclamation point. Much to Gin’s amusement he wasn’t wearing a jacket or vest. Why was that? Oh wait, Gin had them all. What a loser.
“Sorry Mr. Police Officer. I didn’t see you there. It could be because you aren’t wearing the regulation uniform. Shouldn’t you be back at the barracks committing seppuku or something rather than bothering an innocent citizen?”
The scent of burning pine thickened in the air as the alpha got riled up. “Ha! Innocent my ass!”
Gin took a step back before clearing giving the officer a once over. “Mayora, in those pants your ass is anything but innocent.” He grinned as he pushed passed the alpha. Gin would’ve taken longer to admire the state he was in, blushing and speechless was rarely achieved, but it would ruin his exit. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have important business.” He opened the Jump again to emphasize his point, and had just rounded a corner when he heard the officer’s explosion of swear words.
*****
Upon arriving home, Gin tossed the new copy of the jump onto the couch to read later. It suddenly didn’t seem quite as important. He felt anxious to check on his collection, and make sure that it was all still there. The omega hurried to his room, and took catalogue. He had items from both Kagura and Shinpachi, as well as Otose, Otae, and his futon, but his stock mainly included most of Hijikata’s wardrobe.
Gin looked everything over, dissatisfied. He felt like he had everything, but it just wasn’t right. He aimlessly began moving things around, without any luck. His room just didn’t seem like the right place to display his new collection. Something was off. With a loud groan, Gin plopped onto the pile. Damn instincts.
He had landed with his face on one of Hijikata’s jackets. It still smelled of firewood and pine, the alpha’s unique scent, along with the tobacco he was so fond of smoking. He closed his eyes and inhaled. The scent had become so familiar to him in recent years. Though the two may not sit down and talk much, they spoke fluently through actions and the clashing of their blades. Gin had never been the best with words, so interactions with Hijikata had always been refreshing. Thornies understand each other after all.
Gin knew where he had to move his collection. This wasn’t the right place. All of that work collecting things, and now he’d be returning most right back where he got them. This stupid project was too much work, and he couldn’t wait for it to be done so he could nap. With that thought, Gin got to his feet.
Mayora was going to be so pissed. He shrugged. That would be a problem for Future Gin.
*****
Hijikata returned back to the barracks later that night after a very frustrating day. After his encounter with Odd Jobs… A flush lit his face. Nope, he was not thinking about that. Needless to say, the uniform was an integral part in doing his job. Everything that day had taken so damn long because each time he did something he had to whip out his badge, and even then they were skeptical. He’d been patrolling this city for years! He was a main character, dammit! Did they really not recognize him without his uniform? Oh no… Was he starting to be defined by an article of clothing like the glasses kid?
He took a deep breath to calm himself as he stopped by his bedroom door. Enough troubling thoughts, it was finally going to be just him and his paperwork. As it should be.
Hijikata slid open the door before immediately slamming it shut again upon seeing the scene inside. There was no way that mess was his room. The day must have really gotten to him to make him walk to the wrong door. He walked back through the barracks and arrived at his real bedroom door. He knew he had it right this time. Hesitantly he slid the door open slowly.
Inside was some weird sort of organized chaos, and the whole room smelled sweet like strawberries. All of his paperwork and writing utensils were scattered haphazardly on his floor, and his desk had been set on its side to form a wall for a large blanket tent…. No it wasn’t only made of blankets. There were clothes, some of which were definitely his.
What the fuck?! So the clothes thief had stolen his things only to return them like this? Did they melt that ice cream and soak his clothes or something to create the smell? It had to be Sougo! What was that bastard up to?
Muttering angrily to himself he took a step into the room only to notice the blanket tent move, and a head of permy hair emerge. “Oh, it’s just a mayora.”
“What the fuck are you doing here Odd Jobs?!”
Gin looked around the room as if taking it in for the first time, “Well I am no expert on the matter, but it would appear like I’m napping in a blanket fort. Or at least I was until you came bursting in here so rudely.”
Hijikata sputtered at his audacity, “This is my room!”
“What I thought it was my room? Of course it’s your room idiot! I’m here because... “ Gin paused for a moment almost like he was trying to come up with a reason on the spot. Which, considering what Hijikata knew of him, wouldn’t be all that surprising. “Because Otose is looking for rent, and she’ll never look here. She sent Tama again, Oogushi, have some mercy.”
The perm head withdrew back into his tent.
While Gin’s alleged reason made sense, that robot could be damn terrifying, there was no way Hijikata was going to let that loser walk all over him. He also still needed to find out what the bastard had to do with the clothes theft fiasco. It wasn’t making sense, and Hijikata felt like he was missing a piece of the puzzle.
Several things happened at once, Hijikata reached forward to remove one of the top blankets, the strawberry scent soured, and Gin emerged with an angry snarl. The alpha froze instinctively, but it took him a moment longer for things to click into place, the missing piece having been revealed.
The scent of strawberries wasn’t due to the missing ice cream. If it had been it wouldn’t have changed like that. No, it was the scent of an omega. One that was close. It had to be Gin. He was an omega. The Shiroyasha was an omega. The Shiroyasha was nesting… in his room….
…. Hijikata.exe has stopped working…