She Played The Flute[Hijikata Toushiro x OC]

Frog Legs Are Known To Taste Like Chicken

HIJIKATA TOUSHIRO

Kondo and Hijikata sat side by side in the main hall of the Shinsengumi headquarters. Kondo had called in everyone from the Shinsengumi to make an important announcement. The rest of the men, along with Ryoko were seated across them.

"I think all of you already know this but yesterday a ship belonging to the Harusame outer space pirates was sunk." Kondo said gravely. " And now listen you guys - that ship was apparently by just two samurai." he sighed hopelessly once he realized that no one was listening to him and were busy talking among themselves enthusiastically, not paying a single ounce of attention to their commander. "Nobody's even listening!" he turned to Hijikata for help. "Toshi!"

Hijikata looked straight at Ryoko who stared back at him silently and attentively. "Ryoko, come here." he said, patting the spot next to him.

Without any questions asked, she did as she was told, standing next to him. He wasn't going to let her get caught in the mess he was going to put the rest in. After all, she was the only one paying attention to Kondo. He didn't want her to end up being like that one quiet student in class who got into trouble along with the noisy ones just because they happened to be sitting around the same area.

Hijikata held up the bazooka that was placed on the floor next to him initially and aimed well before firing. A loud, booming noise sounded throughout the neighborhood, shocking those who passed by the gates of the headquarters.

Ryoko had returned to her seat, ignoring the smoke that engulfed the building and the sizzling sound of hair being burnt as well as the smell of soot as she and along with the rest of the police force now listened to their commander with great attentiveness.

"I think all of you already know this but yesterday a ship belonging to the Harusame outer space pirates was sunk. And now listen you guys - and act surprised when you hear this; that ship was apparently taken down by just two samurai."

"WHAT! REALLY?" the men chorused, over-exaggerating their tone and it irked Hijikata.

"You guys are so phony." he said, picking up the bazooka once more threateningly. "Act more sincere or I'll -"

"Toshi, forget it. Otherwise we'll never get finished." Kondo told him. "We have reports that one of the two was Katsura of the Anti-Alien Rebel Faction. The Harusame were smuggling large quantities of illegal drugs into Edo and selling them. But the real problem starts here; rumor has it that a Shogunate officer was involved in the drug ring. In return for his cooperation, he received a taste of its profits. The authenticity of this information is uncertain but the anti-Amanto ronin scattered throughout Edo have picked up on these rumors and are planning assassinations. They are saying the scoundrels should be killed! That's where we'll come in!" he ended his words enthusiastically.

***

"You bastard ..." Hijikata growled, spotting non other than Sougo, leaning against a wall with his sleeping mask on. "Even your sleeping face pisses me off." he unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the younger policeman. Ryoko, who had been with Hijikata, watched cautiously lest the two men broke into a fight. "Oi! Wake up! What kind of idiot sleeps during guard duty?"

"What is it, Mom ..." Sougo drawled, removing his sleeping mask. "Today's Sunday. Yer so annoying ..."

"Today's Sunday!" Hijikata barked before grabbing Sougo by the collar and pulling him to his feet as though he was a ragged doll. "You bastard ... What if the Anti-Rebel Faction stormed in while you were slacking off? Stop treating your work with such contempt!"