FicWad

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: Hah, thank you for your support, Illegitimi- I really, really appreciate your feed-back. It makes me feel like a good writer. And thanks to everyone else who's helped, and read, etc. I love reviews! So post all you want. JUST DON"T FLAME. Or I'll sick an angsty-Hijikata on your sorry ass. ;D Kidding, of course.

Oh, and there's a quote in here I want to thank my friend for giving me inspiration to use. =D THANKS!

Chapter Four: Dust to Dust

The day had grown into early afternoon, the time was that of right before anything considered lunch could be served, and everyone had gone and said their words of peace to the deceased Kurea. Of course, there was one person who hadn't. As Takao had come from the room, a look of sorrow on his masculine face, the noise of the wind-chime that hung at the back-door to the deck twittered and twinkled. Glittering cloudy light was shining off the metal part, and the chimes singing a unique melody all their own as the door slid open.

Clack-clunk, clack-clunk, clu-clunk!

The boy who stood in the doorway, a dumbfounded look upon his face, was a tall lad, taller than Tetsunosuke, despite the fact he was nearly three or four years younger than the flaming-red haired runt that been so stubborn to join the Shinsengumi. He was tall, narrow-shaped eyes that were a light gray with a hint of lavender in color. He held a look of dismay on his face, looking from each member of the funeral brigade, and falling on Iwa. "Uncle Iwa.. Who/ are /these people?" He asked, voice extremely low, what seemed to be that of an full-grown man. He scratched his head in curiosity, and in slight frustration. The boy was covered in dirt, his dark-colored kimono torn in several places, and he looked like a common homeless beggar. His black hair was tussled, though it was cut in a shorter style, hair growing longer around his ears, and then pulled back into a low ponytail that fell just at his shoulder in length. His bangs were unevenly cut, and fell in his eyes, and he held a sheepish grin upon his face as he noticed the looks of pure shock on some of his guests faces. It was obvious by the earlier clacking sounds, that he held a crutch beneath his left arm, his left leg steadied against it. One would could describe the fate he'd been given. He was crippled.

"Shit, I know there's not that much dirt on my face." He muttered, wiping at his cheeks, due to the looks of horror, and amusement, in his newest crowd of victims.

Iwa stood up, walking over to Kyoujiro, putting a hand on his shoulder. He closed his eyes, tilted his head to the side and sighed a heavy mushroom-cloud. "Kyoujiro. Where on earth have you been."


"You know, the funny thing is, Uncle Iwa, I've kinda been in the earth more than on top of it." He dusted his kimono's sleeves off. "I kinda.. Got lost."

Takao sprang up from his seat. "YOU GOT LOST!? YOU LITTLE PUNK! I LEFT YOU NOT EVEN TWO DOORS DOWN AND YOU GOT LOST!?" he roared in fury.


Iwa sent a cool and chilling look in Takao's direction.

"Gods, Takao, rip yourself a new asshole, why don't you!" Kyoujiro growled, eyes narrowing into slits. "I can't help it if I have absolutely NO sense of direction."

Souji couldn't help but cover his mouth in amusement. He tried holding back the fit of laughter that was about to be unleashed. And finally, he stopped trying. He burst out in loud laughter, falling back onto his back at the boy's audacity towards his elders.

Hijikata covered his face with his hand. "I swear I don't have any idea who this is." He spoke referring to Souji.

Tetsu couldn't help but grin as well. Even if the boy was taller than him (Which he seriously loathed.), and younger, he still had spunk, and would definitely be a friend of interest.

Tatsu gave Tetsu a quick look that said "Don't get any ideas.", but sighed as well.

Myou smirked. "Yes, Takao-san, listen to the youth of your generation. You're getting old, you know." She teased.


Takao's face turned red. "Shinmyou! I'm not old, and Kyoujiro, if you keep this up, I'll-."

"Rip a new asshole, I already said it." Kyoujiro taunted, the laughter and smirking smiles were only fuel to his undying fire. He looked around the room once again, then back to Iwa. "UNCLE IWA.... Who are these people?" He asked once more.


Iwa smiled. "These are friends of your mother, Hijikata-san, and Okita-san."


The boy obviously had no clue they were important people. "Oh... Wait.." He hobbled over to Souji, clacking and clunking all the way. Looking him over first, then Hijikata, he finally spoke.

"Oh! I know you!" He gave a grin that could have made even the saddest of people smile.

"You're Okita-nii-san! And that's the grumpy Mr. Hijikata, right?" he asked, scratching his head.


Souji's violet eyes brightened, lighting up like lanterns at a summer festival. "That's right!" He chimed. "You're the young Kyoujiro, correct?" He inquired, tilting his head to the side.


"That's right, Kyoujiro Kurea. Named after Kyoujaku Kurea, my grandpa, and Jiro, my dad. But they're both dead, so there's no way you can get us confused with names." He grinned nonchalantly.

Hijikata grumbled, shaking his head. Sure as hell, this was Kurea's kid. He'd grown up quite a bit, but still, the boy was just as obnoxious and narrow-eyed as his mother had been. A near spitting image, that was for damn sure. Unfortunate, it was, for everyone.

Iwa finally looked at Kyoujiro, giving him a hard stare. "Kyoujiro, would you like to say good-bye to your mother?"


"Already did." Kyoujiro assured him.

Iwa blinked. "But you haven't even been in to see her-"

"She hasn't come home yet."


The looks on the friends of the family, other than the Shinsengumi members, were that of exhaustion.

"Why don't you go in and talk to that urn, okay, Kyoujiro?"

Kyoujiro gave Iwa an odd look. "Alright. I don't really see the point in talking to a vase, but okay."

As he left the room, Iwa looked to Hijikata, Souji, Tatsu and Tetsu. "My apologies. You see, no matter how much we try and insist she's gone, he doesn't believe or accept it. I think it's just something gradual he'll deal with." He sweat dropped.

"Either that or the kid's psycho." Takao muttered, still angered from earlier.

"Takao!" Myou and Iwa roared in unison, after the outburst at Takao's rudeness, silence ensued.

And through the other room you could hear Kyoujiro speaking to the urn.

"You know, I don't know why I'm talking to a god-damn vase, but okay. It's an ugly vase, I think so anyways. Who the hell would want to be buried in this old thing. I don't see why Iwa wants me to talk to it, it's an inanimate object for the Gods sakes! What am I? A senile man that thinks his wife is a urn?"

Hijikata sweat dropped. "For sure, that's Kurea's son." He coughed.

Souji nodded, chuckling. "That's for sure."

Takao blinked. "Speaking of ugly things, I forgot." He dug in his haori, pulling out a folded piece of parchment paper. "It's actually addressed to Hijikata... I think." He said, trying to attempt reading the name written on the front. He handed it over to the Vice Commander. "Found it in Kurea's old things.

Hijikata grabbed the letter, still having a bad feeling about Takao (The man just irked him, not as an evil person, but an irritating one.), and unfolded it. A letter from Kurea, he could tell.

It wasn't necessarily HARD to tell it was Kurea's handwriting, seeing as it was NEARLY impossible to decipher her horrific calligraphy. How she passed her first years of school made Hijikata wonder about the teacher. Must have been someone who did NOT want her back in their class. Yeah, Kurea was definitely one of those kids you didn't want another year.

He squinted a bit, finally being able to read it despite the fact he was barely a half-inch away from the paper.

Toshizo Hijikata,

I'm sure by this handwriting that you know it's me. Obviously, it is. If you don't, you're just more of a dumb-ass than I every thought you to be.


I'm writing this due to the fact it's been forever since I've seen your sorry ass. I don't give a fuck whether you're the Vice Commander or the Shogunate, you're still the dumb Toshizo I always remembered.

And no, I'm not going to insult you this entire letter. I'm writing this before taking a trip to Osaka.. I'm not sick, I'm not dying, but my gut instinct is telling me I better write this before I go, just a feeling. I should listen to my gut more often, I suppose.


Anyways, Kyoujiro's going to turn thirteen soon, I know he's in safe hands with Iwa, Myou and Takao for now, but he won't be soon enough.

I'm asking you, if anything happens to me, to take him in. I don't care whether he wants to recruit, or just help with the cooking; I heard that Ayumu passed on. Tell Susumu he better watch his ass, and that I'd kill the sorry son of a bitch or bitches that killed her if they weren't already dead. I'm sure you made that certain. I hope she rests in peace, and Susumu gets a real life, and maybe a girlfriend. That'd keep the idiot busy.

Either way, I only ask this one thing of you. If I had to beg you, I would, and you know, me, of all people, do not BEG.

That's not necessarily true since I've slept outside a few times, with a tofu bucket besides me, for spare change, but that's not really the same thing, is it?


Just do this for me.

And don't overwork yourself, you sorry Shinsengumi dog, you. And tell Souji that he's to watch over Kyoujiro as well. Make sure they're both in good check, or I'll come to kick your sorry ass, understand?

In a way, I guess you could consider this a threat, but I hope you take it as a threat, AND a favor.

See you in Hell, whenever that day comes.

And old friend, Kurea.

Hijikata read the letter two more times, the third time it finally hit him. It had seemed nearly surreal since he'd heard of his old 'friend's' death, that she was actually gone. And now she was, and she wanted to take her son. He wasn't safe? What did she mean by this letter?

Did she expect her own death? Why was Kyoujiro going to be put in harm's way if he stayed with his family? Why did she want the boy to go with him?


And the last question was... Did he want to take that chance of protecting the boy?

As the wind-chime on the door continued to sing in the wind, and as though something mystical was beginning to form, the sun was shining against the metal wind-chime, and at that exact moment, during the sunshine, it began to rain.