Sometimes A Sadist is Better than A Doctor When You're Sick (and the others)

Hide Your Dirty Magazine in Unexpected Places

"Okita-san has been... Taken down by a serious illness."

This news usually would made Kagura really happy. That rival of hers finally went down afterall. But right now, surprisingly to her, it didn't made her smile at all. Otae's face looks really serious. It doesn't seem that the sadist illness isn't something trivial as a simple cold.

"What... what do you mean he's taken down...?"

"Okita-san has been really sick these past few months... Ah no... I guess years...? He was hiding this illness of him for years and these past few months it's getting worse. Isao-san gotten really worried and wanted Okita-san to be soon hospitalized. But... They had a bad fight because of it. It's been really made the atmosphere inside Shinsengumi really tense."

"But why? Why did he hide it? Why gorilla and the sadist had a fight because of it? Is that stupid head just pretending to be sick so he can ditch his work again?"

Otae shakes her head.

"I'm sorry, Kagura-chan. I don't have the right to tell you more." Otae took Kagura's trembling hands, the look on Kagura's face shows that she's also shocked by how great of a deal this matter took on her body, "You can visit Okita-san in the Shinsengumi HQ and talk to him. I think he would love to have someone to talk too as well as Isao-san talked his problem to me. He... seemed lonely the last time I saw him."

Kagura needs to go now. She knew this illness is very serious. She can't help but think of his sister situation from Gin-chan many years ago. If he does have the same illness and have been hiding it all of these years, it doesn't mean something good. Even Kagura wants to punch herself for not noticing anything weird with the sadist for all these years.

The cold air hits Kagura as she, riding Sadaharu, runs to Shinsengumi home. Snow hasn't fallen yet she can clearly see her breath coming out. This reminds her of when she was looking for him after Kondo got arrested. In her head she can pictured the sadist's emotionless face.

Standing in front of the Shinsengumi HQ made Kagura snap out of her mind.

Why is she like this? Why does her heart beat so fast? Why is she worried about him?

It's that idiot fault that Otae is worried about the Gorilla. She supposed to be mad. But she can't get mad at all right now. She was only filled with anxiety and confusion.

Breathing out the air she didn't realize she had been holding onto, Kagura opens the gate.

"Ah. It's Mayora."

"Ah. It's China Girl."

Hijikata Toushiro didn't change much. He still got his V-shaped hair and mayo lighter. As expected from top 3 in Popularity Poll. Even age can't get him.

"It's been a long time since I saw you wondering around the town. Just got back from the space?"

"Yeah."

"Ah..." Hijikata blinked twice. He hold out his mayo lighter and lit up his cigarette, "Here to see Sougo?"

Kagura didn't answer, so Hijikata took it as a yes. He knew this child is pretty tsundere.

"Look... Uh... Sougo now is..." Hijikata scratching his head trying to find the right words to tell the girl in front of him. The news he's trying to tell isn't really something he can just say suddenly. Especially when this piece information is a secret within the Shinsengumi. But after hearing the commander told Otae, Hijikata had the feeling he needs to tell the news too to this girl. He saw how close the two are despite all the fights. He's been with Sougo for a long time. That boy sucks at making friends and hard to understand what's going on inside his sadist head.