grabbed the towels.
Souji nodded weakly and held onto Hijikata. As soon as he stood he was dizzy. He closed his eyes and Toshizou hurried to wrap his wet hair in a towel. With the second he dried off Souji. Thankfully, Souji felt how warmth returned to his body. But he was still cold.He leaned against Hijikata-san and enjoyed feeling the warmth of another person. There was still the familiar but gross taste of blood and slime in his mouth. Just like tonight. And just like tonight, he enjoyed letting himself go for a moment. Just a moment ...

"Souji ..." Toshizou paused as Souji leaned his head on his chest. “Souji, it's almost done.” He led Souji to the door, next to which a fresh yukata was ready. He gently pushed the younger one away from him to dress him. Finally he handed him some more water so that he could rinse his mouth. It was still slightly reddish in color when Souji spat it back into one of the buckets.

Then he led Souji to his room. He had considered wearing it in view of his exhaustion, but that would have caused too much attention. Souji didn't want anyone to know how seriously ill he was, so he tortured himself down the hall next to him to his room.Even before Hijikata had fully opened the sliding door, a grumpy "buki buki" sounded out of the room. Toshizou had completely forgotten the annoying pig. From the beginning he hadn't understood why Souji had taken this pig so fondly and he disapproved of the fact that Saizou stayed in Souji's room like a pet. He was about to suggest that Saizou be brought into the stable so that Souji could have some peace and quiet when he was disabused.
“Saizou!” Souji smiled exhausted as he sank to the floor and picked up the little pig. "I'm sorry that I was gone for so long ..."
Toshizou rolled his eyes in annoyance. There was no reason Souji had to apologize for anything to this stupid pig.
“Souji, you have to go to bed.” He said firmly and pulled Souji up from the tatami and led him to his futon
"At least once you did something right, Ichimura .."

No sooner was Souji lying in the futon, Saizou followed.Toshizou was already on the lips of a warning, but then let it go. He couldn't stand it when Souji took the creature to bed with him.
"Hijikata-san" Souji whispered with closed eyes. His soft voice and the smile on his lips reminded Toshizou that he couldn't care whether this piglet slept with Souji or not, as long as Souji was happy with it.
"Arigato, Hijikata-san ..."
Toshizou allowed himself a small smile.
"Sleep now, Souji. I'll leave you alone for a moment, okay?"
Souji's answer was a slight snore.
"Buki!"
"I didn't ask you, piglet!" Toshizou thought, amused.

Twenty minutes later, Toshizou came back freshly washed to Souji's room. As soon as Souji woke up, a doctor would examine him. But it would be some time before then. Toshizou considered whether he should get his work in Souji's room, but Souji's sleeping sight awakened other thoughts in him.The night had lasted long enough. Paper was patient and gentlemen had to wait a little longer for their reports. It was time for some relaxation. Carefully he lay down next to Souji on the futon and closed his eyes. Souji instinctively snuggled his back against him while he was sleeping. They both felt a warm feeling.

Owari

Ayumis: Comment: Is anyone still alive or have they all died of boredom? I don't know why I had to write it down, but I've been thinking about it for 3 weeks ...

Explanation of words:

Buki buki: that's how the pigs grunt in Japan ^^ Of course they don't really say "buki buki", just as our pigs don't "oink oink" ...

Do: breastplate of kendo armor

Taichou: rank designation