Chapter Text
Lust…I hunt for those who give themselves away…I search for those who sell the bodies given to them by god…There is no hope of mercy from me…I was created by god…I am his messenger…The messenger of god will bring rage to his enemies…The enemies of god will be warned by me…Lust is just the beginning…Soon all sins will disappear from this world…Then god will be free to do as he pleases.
Crimson eyes snapped open to the sound of pounding on the door. Messy white hair sat atop a fairly round face, contrasting the darker coloring of his skin. Thin, gentle fingers pushed covers off of a thin but lean frame. The hands those fingers were attached too were covered in caresses and thin scars, the result of handling a sword so much. Thin lips open in a yawn to reveal white teeth. Slowly the male pushed himself to his feet, strutting to the front door at a leisurely pace. Once he reached it he pulled the door open to reveal a tall male stood in front of him. This man had dark green hair with blue eyes. He was wearing his usual work attire, consisting of black trousers with a white shirt and necktie. This was covered by a black vest and black jacket. All of his outer clothing had gold trimmings that matched the outfit perfectly. Currently said male was holding his katana in front of him, his eyes narrowed in anger. The white haired man grinned at his visitor, leaning in the doorway and raising an eyebrow at the other.
“What can I do for you, Mr Demon Vice-Chief?” He asked, using a sultry tone to piss the other man off even more.
“Someone was murdered near here last night. I’m investigating,” the vice-chief replied, his tone frustrated.
“And of course your first thought is to come to me…I’m insulted Toshi. We have this discussion every time…I’m not a murderer.”
“We found traces of your DNA on the victim Yorozuya,” at that comment Gintoki fell silent, his usual playful grin falling from his face. He didn’t know how that could be possible, he had been asleep all night.
“Well…you must be mistaken. I’ve been here all day,” he replied, recovering from his shock quickly. As he spoke the words though he remembered the strange dream he had had during the night. It was part of the reason why he had woken up in the first place.
He had heard a voice, strangely similar to his own, that had been speaking of lust and murder. The images that had flashed through his mind had been blurred, almost cracked like a mirror, and had shown a young woman. He, himself, had thought the girl was pretty, but the voice he had heard had seemed to want her dead. Now that he thought about it…it couldn’t be. Looking up at the vice chief once more, not realizing until that moment he had even looked away, he grabbed the other man’s shoulders and looked into his stern eyes desperately. “Show me the victim…please,” his voice came out pleading, he would have hated that fact any other time, but he didn’t care right now. He needed to solve this…if that meant he had to beg and plead with the other man then he had no problem with that. Hijikata looked taken aback at the other man’s sudden change in demeanor but he did not comment on it, instead choosing to pay close attention to the white haired man’s words. Why would the Yorozuya want to see the victim if he had nothing to do with this case, as he had insisted only minutes before.
“Why the sudden interest, sweet freak,” he adds the insult in there to ease the tension.
While he knows all evidence points to Gintoki being the killer he finds it hard to believe…no…he doesn’t want to believe it and that rattles him more than he likes to admit. But he also doesn’t want to startle the other man too much, it would do no good to scare their main suspect away after all.
“It’s just…I just…please, I’m begging you…I need to see…I need to know,” Yorozuya’s words are stuttered with pure fear and that is the most terrifying thing Hijikata had heard come out of the other man’s mouth. Considering some of the jokes the other man usually came up with, that fact was saying something.
Seeing the man in this state put his protective mode into overdrive, his head whirling with ideas on what could be scaring HIS Shiroyashi. Whatever, or whoever, it was they were going to pay. Hijikata didn’t know if Gintoki liked him, hell, didn’t even know if the other man was gay, but Hijikata liked the other man regardless. Currently it was still only the like stage, not love, at least not yet. He had a feeling it would progress though, unlike his other stages. There had been a stage with Kondo, Sougo too, but they had been nothing more than slight crushes. What he felt for Gintoki was different, he knew that much at least. Without another word Hijikata gently took the white haired male’s hands in his own, removing them from his shoulders slowly.
“Fine, but you better be damn grateful for this. I am breaking a shit ton of rules for you right now,” the comment is offhanded, as though he breaks rules for this man every day.
In a way, Hijikata thinks to himself, he supposes he does. He had protected Gintoki from the law more times than he dared to count and now the other man was on first name basis with practically EVERY Shinsengumi officer there was. The officers themselves had taken to Gintoki like wild fire, even that damn Sougo, and even Kondo didn’t mind the former criminal. Of course once his chief had found out about Hijikata’s liking of the man he had taken it upon himself to handle all matters concerning Gintoki. Whenever an issue involving the white haired man and the law arose he quickly dealt with it, telling Hijikata he was simply keeping the field open for his favourite officer. Gintoki doesn’t seem to notice the comment though, and the meaning behind it, to immersed in his own thoughts. Once they reached the crime scene the pair slipped under the tape the Shinsengumi officers had already placed, moving towards the body with obvious meaning. Gintoki took one look at the body before stepping back, falling to his knees next to Hijikata and letting out a whimper. Hijikata startled at that, before crouching by the other man and draping his jacket over him quickly. He sent glares at any officers who dared get to close, causing them to scurry off at the wrath of the demon vice-chief. Once he was sure it was safe to talk he turned to Gintoki, wrapping his arm across the others back lightly.
“What’s wrong?” His voice comes out gentle, not holding the usual gruffness, but he doesn’t mind so much. He wants to help Yorozuya, not push him further into his shell. If he sounds like an idiot, sounds like his losing his touch, well…that doesn’t bother him too much.
At this point he doesn’t think his dignity is the last thing he’d give up for this man either. This infuriating, useless, good for nothing, damnation, perfect, fallen angel of a man. Because that is what Gintoki is to Hijikata. He is an embodiment of all Hijikata wants and yet at the same time he is everything the black haired man cannot have. He is a demon, a devil, wearing the skin of an angel to lure Hijikata in before he is left to be devoured by the darkness of the demon. Hijikata finds it angering him every time he thinks of the other man, keeping him in a permanently bad mood. He is a man Hijikata would give everything for and yet would give nothing in return. Hijikata doesn’t mind that thought so much, though. He would be glad to give everything to Gintoki…if it meant Gintoki would spare him a glance. That was also how Hijikata thought of Gintoki. He saw him as a man who hid his emotions behind a mask. Someone who would talk to you, but never truly see you. That pissed off Hijikata even more than the thought of not being able to have the man. He wants to be seen by the man beside him, even if the man doesn’t ever love him…if he can just be seen by him, truly seen, then maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much.
“She was in my dream. I saw her in my dream. Something to do with lust…and…and god. There was something to do with god too,” the man’s shaky voice breaks Hijikata out of his thought, bringing his attention back to the present.
“So what are you saying?” Hijikata asks, his eyes narrowing. Why the hell was Gintoki thinking off a woman he had probably never even seen before? Because, he just knew, Gintoki would not go to see a prostitute…if he did, well then…there would be hell to pay. Hell, of the demon vice-chief’s viscous anger, kind.
“I think I killed her…” Gintoki mutters, Hijikata losing his trail of thought at the other man’s words because, well really, who would have been expecting that reply…