Murderfam Mingle - shiptrap reunion because we said so

[meatery]

[One moment, you were in one place. The next moment, a black hole opened up under your feet and you fell through.

Huh. Weird.

Now you're in a dense forest, a top a huge mountain. It might take a moment to notice, but it's actually part of a chain of mountains. There's a small town at the base, but that's a long, long walk. Better to appreciate the vibrant forest, the rushing rivers and the plentiful wildlife, yes? There's monkeys in the trees, fish in the river and the occasional pterodactyl in the sky. You might even come across an old man, friendly enough and seemingly unafraid of strangers. He's the only human you'll find on this mountain, as he'll happily tell you, but it's probably worth exploring anyway.

After all, it's not just humans you're looking for.]

Comments

[hopefragment]

[UGH DAD HE ALREADY LOST YOU ONCE... TWICE-!! TWICE. NOT AGAIN gotta change the history books.

Hinata can't help but grin as he drops to sit comfortably in front of the older man, nodding with that explanation. In spite of everything, Hijikata still remembers him... that definitely makes him feel good. Otherwise this whole reunion would have been awfully awkward.]

I'm glad. It was a lot, but... you made it through.

[And then a bit of a sheepish laugh as he runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head.]

Um... as for how long it's been, it's a long story. Technically, I don't think it's been more than a year, but, well... when you knew me, I wasn't... totally me, if that makes sense. That's why I'm older now.

[It doesn't.]

[hijiwanwan]

[ STOP I'M GOING TO DIE FOR A THIRD TIME WHEN I GO BACK HOME AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME!!! ]

Well, for the record you made it until the end. [ But he isn't going to dwell on that okay. He needed some R&R back at home trying to still get over his death via The Kasin, okay! Noooo talking about death. ]

A year, huh... Yeah, I think it's almost been that long. Sometimes I lose count... Ah. Really? Did you ever find out what the '???' actually was?

[hopefragment]

Ah...

[Ah. That hand in his hair shifts subtly, rubbing over a particular spot beneath his hairline before he drops it and tries to force a smile.]

Well, about that... It turns out I didn't have one, after all. I was never a Super High School Level anything, I... passed a normal entrance exam to enter Hope's Peak's reserve course.

[hijiwanwan]

Really now...

[ Raising an eyebrow at Hinata, confused, why are you so sad Hinata? Look, unlike when they first met, he isn't going to call you dumb or bland! ]

And is that so bad? You don't really need someone or something else like a school to tell you what you are anyway. [ There's a shrug. He had to deal with his blood relatives telling him he's a demon, sometimes it's not the best thing in the world. ]

You'll find something you're good at eventually. I mean, I did, so... [ ... Yeah, he's not the best at this whole comfort stuff, but hey- he's trying his best. At least he means every word! ]

[hopefragment]

[Thanks dad...!!]

...Yeah, I know.

[He rubs his head one more time before tossing the older man another smile, this one a lot more genuine as he nods in thanks. He really does sound a lot more confident in himself as he answers,]

I've already decided I'm... not gonna let anyone choose my future for me. That's what my classmates and I are working on. We've got a long way to go, but... no matter what, it's going to be my decision.

But what about you? If you remembered what happened, does that mean, uh, Okita did, too...? And your sword, Kumihiro...?

[hijiwanwan]

Now, that's something I like to hear. You've definitely grown. [ Except this time, he didn't mean by physical looks. More like! Maturity! Yes. He nods. He's proud of his son. ]

Ahh... Let's see. Horikawa... I think he goes back to the citadel, as for my Horikawa- [ Hand on the hilt of the Wakizashi by his hip. ] Safe and sound.

Souji... Well, we did go back home. I immediately forced him to rest since we actually planned to send him off somewhere else to recover... [ There's a pause. He isn't really thrilled to say all this. ] His condition got worse, so... I worry for him more than ever.

But yeah. Souji remembers everything. Before his condition got worse... Sometimes we talked about what happened. We ended up telling Kondo-san too, he definitely found it interesting. [ A small nod. ] He also forgave me for all the mistakes I did, I guess I'm really lucky to have him.

[ A sigh. ] Well... I was lucky while it lasted. Things haven't been so great as of late. [ #Tuff Shinsengumi Life. ]

[hopefragment]

I was kind of afraid that I'd get home and read in my history books that Hijikata had committed seppuku for an unknown reason... I'm glad you didn't.

[That whole business about betraying the Shinsengumi meaning seppuku, after all, but he's glad to see that wasn't the case... though he's not totally sure how he feels about other people knowing about what happened, he can't really talk. Considered Rei popped up out of the blue back on Jabberwock Island, he'd had to explain it to his classmates.

But he just nods in response to the news about the swords, glancing toward the wakizashi as if to confirm for himself. Who knows, maybe they'll see Horikawa while they're here? Whatever's going on, anyway.]

Okita's... tuberculosis, right? But what do you mean, what's happening now?

[hijiwanwan]

History books...

[ He looks at Hinata with a curious look. Hijikata? In a book? It's kind of weird to think about that, honestly... Does he dare to question further- eh, maybe not. ] Don't worry, it's usually me that orders those kinds of things, Kondo-san is too open-minded to do that.

[ Gotta hold up the regulations no matter what! ]

Hm... Yeah. I actually haven't checked on him in awhile, I wonder if he's okay... I've been kind of busy, I guess. [ NOT HAPPY ABOUT SAYING THIS EITHER. ] Kondo-san got executed awhile back.

But... I guess that gives me a reason to fight until the end, huh. I was on my way to Hakodate until this happened. Hopefully, I can get back in time because I'm definitely not going to be absent when troops need me.

[hopefragment]

Yeah. You're pretty important, you know?

[History, pop culture... vaguely, Hinata wonders how interested Hijikata would be to hear about all the different adaptations of him in manga and stuff. But that's getting a little too meta for him, so he just shakes his head and shoots him a grin. It's a good thing Hijijiji was the one to break the rules, then, and not Souji, it seems...

Though that grin falters at the mention of Hakodate, getting a little strained at the corners.]

O-oh, yeah? I don't know, I think they might be alright without you. I mean, that's, uh, that's what you train them for, right?