Here's lookin' at you, Whit (HijiOki fic)
PMK fic, HijiOki, PG. Totally non-tragic, as per request. Happy early generic winter holiday. I hope this counts as "improper use." XD Still looking for my title fu.



Snowman

~ ~ ~

The catpaw patter of yesterday's rain had fallen into silence during the night. Souji nosed his way out of the futon covers, then scooted from under the arm lodged across his midriff. A muffled snore rose from beside him, but subsided almost at once, so he pulled his kimono around him and padded through dim grey light toward the door.

He had to squint when he slid it open. Icicles hung glistening from the laden eaves of the barracks, from the Mibu Temple outbuildings just visible beyond. Between sky, clouds, and the space below there was no demarcation, only a ceaseless wild flutter of jubilant white.

Souji closed the door and crept back to the futon.

"Hi-ji-ka-ta-san."

He didn't really expect an answer. The deep breathing remained steady, the broad shoulders huddled against morning's encroach.

"Hijikata-san, it's snowing."

~

It was much later when high-pitched shrieks began to pierce toward Hijikata as if through dense, dull fog. He stirred once or twice within the futon, burrowing downward with a peevish grunt. His arm was draped around a wad of limp blankets--no lean, supple body lay near him to return his heat. Frowning, he squinched his eyes shut tight and grunted again. It wouldn't hurt the little so-and-so to stay in bed on a winter morning once in a while. He'd never understood how anyone could be so eager to get up when it was so damned cold.

At least the voices from outside were shrill with glee, not mortal terror. Stray brats in the temple yard--what were they doing so close to Shinsengumi quarters? The tonsho wasn't a playground. Maybe they'd shut up soon, and he could go back to....

"Now let's put the head on!"

Hijikata's eyes flipped open.

"Good, good--a little to the left--perfect."

"Yaaaay! He's finished!"

"Ah, not quite. He looks kind of chilly standing there in the nude. We'd better fix that."

"Yeah, let's dress him up!"

"Ken-kun, I have a mission for you. Can you find us a nice skinny twig about, hmm, this long?"

That was Souji. Captain of the Ichibantai Irregulars. Scowling, Hijikata snaked a hand out of the blankets to grasp at his clothes. It had probably snowed, and he would bet his sword that Souji wasn't dressed properly for the weather--had in fact probably already caught a chill, which would trigger one of those coughing bouts, which would set them both on edge--

"What's the twig for?"

"He needs a pipe." Souji's voice again. "Don't you think he needs a pipe?"

"I think so."

In the place where Hijikata's kimono and haori had been folded, his fingers met bare floor. He stared blankly at the tatami mats, then lunged upright and looked about himself. There was nothing in reach or sight but disheveled blankets. His clothes were gone.

Outside the children squalled. "Hey, you're tying his obi wrong."

"Shut up! It's hard to tie it on somebody else. You tie it if you're so good at it."

Ignoring of the shock of air on naked skin, Hijikata launched to his feet, stormed toward the door that faced the veranda, and yanked it open just an inch. Icy wind burst into the room, but he scarcely felt it, as through the crack he could see tumbling snowflakes, a yard draped in shining white, a troop of urchins and their smiling ringleader--who was NOT dressed properly for the weather--and standing in their midst, the tallest, most statuesque snowman ever constructed.

The snowman was wearing his clothes.

He slammed the door and went to find another kimono.

~

The boys and girls in the yard wisely scattered when a fuming, black-clad monster thundered up and seized their fearless leader by the scruff, bellowing things like "No coat on!" and "Thirty spankings--no, fifty!" Souji waved his goodbyes, laughing as he was hauled back indoors to receive his punishment.

"Hijikata-san, your clothes--"

"WHAT ABOUT THEM?"

"It's so nice of you to leave them--f-for Mr. Snowman nyahaha--"

"They're already cold and wet." The fist gripping Souji's shirt tightened. "And so are you."

"We had a snowball fight earlier. Too bad you missed it--oof!"

He was dropped without ceremony to the floor in Hijikata's room. When big, brusque hands grabbed his belt to pull it off, Souji feigned scandal.

"Eeeek, Hijikata-saaan! It's the middle of the day!"

"Quiet."

"You know I don't like it when you're so rough--ahaha, that tickles!"

"Stop squirming, will you!"

Judging that a certain someone's tether was about to fray past repair, Souji did. The brusque hands gentled as they tugged off his snow-sodden clothes, then bundled him into a dry robe and wrapped him up in blankets like a gift. Souji peeked at the face hovering above him, which looked dark and fulminous still.

"But wasn't he handsome?"

"Who."

"Our snowman. Wasn't the likeness good?" Souji perched his hands on Hijikata's shoulder to lean up and murmur in one ear. "I thought you might come running out with nothing on."

"Like hell."

"I hoped you would."

"You little--"

A warm palm slid under his shoulderblades, sheathing snug between blanket and robe. Another lifted the damp hair from his nape, fingering the flyaway strands to chasten them. Souji closed his eyes. It was the middle of the day, but he'd always considered that a flimsy reason for stopping, especially if it was cold outside. With a wriggle he stretched out across the lap in front of him.

"Spankings?" he asked.

Hijikata made hamstrung noises. Souji wondered if now would be a good time to resume squirming--strategically, of course.

When they finally reemerged, it was mid-afternoon, and the children were long gone from the yard. Next to the big snowman, however, a smaller one was standing, with a pebble-toothed smile on its face and a wooden sword tucked at its side.

~ ~ ~