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Vagabond's Pup

A Peacemaker Kurogane Fanfiction

By Kuroe-chan! The Insomnia Samurai

Disclaimer: ALL PMK characters belong to Nanae Chrono, who you've got to be crazy not to love. All other characters are mine, and remain mine.

NOTE: Thank you so much for your comment, Illegitimi, it fueled my fire. I also want to give thanks for brainstorming to my great-and-helpful buddy Ashie! YOU HELP SO MUCH! -happy tears-


Chapter Two: Eavesdropping Ichimura

The night, despite the warm summer weather, had a bitter chill to it. After the famous lines of 'We have to go to a funeral', Hijikata had told Souji to return later that night, and hollered at Tetsu to get him some decent tasting tea, because the tea he'd made tasted more like warm water than the usual herb-tasting drink.

Of course, Tetsu, with much remorse, grumbled in annoyance, and hurried off. But the boy had returned out of his own crafty curiosity, later that night. As Okita had made his way from his quarter to Hijikata's office, Tetsu had tip-toed his way towards the office, hiding around the corner. The boy could hear the faint words, but wasn't close enough to hear anything that was audible. So, scooting on the deck, and up to the wooden frame that held the shoji screening in, he hid in the corner's welcoming darkness. Putting an ear up to the paper-thin(Literally.) wall, he smirked, everything could be heard as though he was inside discussing it himself.

Hijikata's usually roaring tone was low, and severely strained. "Souji.." He started off. "Do you remember a woman who went by her surname, Kurea?" He asked slowly, leaning over his desk, looking at the plum-haired male, quirking a brow.


Souji blinked. "You can't mean the onee-chan Kurea, can you?" He inquired, in a shocked tone. "Is this the funeral we'll be attending?!" He gasped, eyes wide in surprise. "No, that can't be true."

"Yes, an old... Acquaintance of mine-" Hijikata began once more.


"Mr. Hijikata, she was a friend, not an acquaintance!" Souji barked gently. "I remember her, like it was yesterday! She refused to accept the fact that she was a cross-dresser, and was some sort of vagabond ronin. And her son, little Kyoujiro! Hijikata! What about her son!?" He said in a soft tone. "He was only eight or nine the last time we saw them.. That was... three or four years ago.."

Hijikata nodded. "A year or so after you met her- Her former master moved to France, to live with his sons- She took the opportunity to run his dojo. They supposedly found her body in the shallows of the river not too far away from her dojo."

"You mean she was murdered?"

Hijikata grunted in annoyance. "That's what I said, wasn't it? Either way, her body was so mangled and mutilated that they weren't sure it was her at first. Though they found a personal item that only she owned on her."

Souji looked at Hijikata. "They're positive it was her?" He questioned in a demanding tone, a sick look on his face.

"Yes. They know for sure it was her. A companion of hers wrote me this letter." The tall male shuffled around the abundance of paperwork on his desk and immediately picked out the letter, giving it to Souji.

The younger man looked to Hijikata, curious, but still sickened, eyes still wide, face pale as he unfolded the note, and read silently to himself the writing upon the letter.

Addressed to Hijikata Toshizo,

It is with earnest respect that I send this letter to Kyoto, for you to read.

I would guess you wouldn't forget my sensei, Kurea-dono, very easily. She was truly a different type of person. It is with my deepest sorrow and regret to inform you, her body was found one week ago, the shallows of the river were stained with blood, her body mutilated to the point that at first we thought it only to be a simple murder of some other person, and that Kurea-dono was still on her trip to Osaka.

Though as the body was examined, it was found that the small chain with her good-luck charm, a broken bell, was wrapped around the mangled mess of a person's neck. Her sword was obviously stolen, and the bell discarded from it's hilt, where it usually was placed.


It was soon found that Kurea-dono did not return from her trip, even two weeks late. And it was confirmed that this was her body. We have notified the higher authorities, though doubt that it will be taken as anything more than lightly.

To pay her respects, we have arranged a small shrine in her honor, as her funeral. I, as her comrade, friend, and adopted son, ask you to come pay your respects. She often talked of going to visit you, and Souji Okita.

I will include the address, and ask for you, and whoever else you choose to bring, to come the place where her ashes will be honored at. You will be welcomed to pay your respects to her ashes, as well as when they are spread.

Everything needed will be included on the back of this note- Thank you.

Signed, Iwa Kurotake, a good friend, and comrade, to Tori Kurea.




Souji looked to Hijikata, a saddened look upon his youthful face. "It just doesn't seem very likely.. She didn't seem like the type to let this happen.."

Hijikata snorted. "She wasn't." He muttered, sighing heavily at this, rubbing his temples in an exhausted manner.

--------------------------------------------


Tetsu had listened this entire time, wondering who on earth was this woman they were speaking of, and why her life had ended in such a gruesome way. Something didn't sit right with him, it just didn't make sense. And so, with a silent sigh, he got up, slowly stepping off the deck, only to trip over something, and fall face forward, into the dirt-

"YAHH!" he yelped as this happened, and one on the ground, he rolled over, face covered with dirt. He spit a weed from his mouth, and groaned in pain, sitting up to see what exactly had interrupted his quiet escape.


"Quee.."


Saizou had sat upon the deck, an almost pleased look in those beady little eyes of his. The piglet simply turned it's back, and trotted away.

"YOU STUPID LITTLE-"

The shoji screen slammed open. "

"ICHIMURAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."

"Uh-oh..." Tetsu blinked, looking at a point-blank, FURIOUS Hijikata, who was seething as a dark figure with red-eyes.

Souji, luckily, came out, looked to Saizou, and picking him up. He couldn't' help but give a slight smile. "Well. Since you've been listening in, you should pay your respects, too, Tetsunosuke."

Tetsu sighed, flopping back in the dirt, knowing the whole compound would be angry at him for making Hijikata howl out and wake them up during their oh-so-important rest.