Spap: Howdy again! I have received reviews! To those who wrote them…Wipes away a tear I…I love you! Invader Zim fans would get that. Sorry it took so long to update, DDR is an addicting game. Also, my computer is a retard (isn't everyone's these days?) , but it was mostly DDR. Anyway, This chapter is mostly about Tetsu and his ordeal. It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, a half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. On with the fic!

Being page to the to the cranky crap geezer also known as Vice Commander Hijikata was bad. Being page to the cranky crap geezer also known as Vice Commander Hijikata while you head felt like a ton of bricks was hell.

Tesunosuke wiped away sweat from his forehead and continued to wash the laundry that had been assigned to him. He paused for a second and looked around, something was not normal. No sounds were heard from the training hall.

"Must mean Shinpachi and Sanosuke are out somewhere." He muttered and hung the last piece of clothing to dry. He cringed as he heard Hijikata's voice ordering tea. As much as he had wanted to yell some random insult, he only called back two words.

"Yes, Sir."

The red haired boy ran toward the kitchen and began to boil a pot of water. Waiting for the pot to heat up, Tetsu leaned against the wall and wiped more sweat from his forehead. He felt awful today, his limbs ached and he couldn't hold down his breakfast to save his life. Tatsunosuke had asked about his well-being in the morning, but he had shrugged him off and ignored the question.

"Where is my tea!" Hijikata's voice brought Tetsu out of his daze and back to his job.

"C-coming!" Tetsu shouted back and placed the cup of hot liquid onto a tray. Slowly, the boy made his way towards the Vice Commanders quarters.

Though he didn't show it, Hijikata was actually was surprised. Tetsunosuke had made it to his room without spilling the tea. Even more surprising, was it had tasted like tea. Hijikata could only conclude that the boy was sick. As he closed his eyes, he thought of the many chores he could tell Tetsu to do, but stopped when he heard a small thud.

When he reopened his eyes, Hijikata saw his page on the floor. He slowly stood and walked over to the boy, stopping to tap Tetsunosuke's side with his foot.

"Hey…" He muttered and looked around. So the boy really was sick. Hijikata heaved a sigh and shrugged as he grabbed Tetsu by the back of his shirt and walked over to bookkeeping.

One look at his little brother, as he was carried in by Hijikata, sent Tatsunosuke into a frenzy. The bookkeeper grabbed Tetsu from Hijikata's grasp and ran down the hallway, sliding at every corner he turned. Okita caught sight of the two brothers and greeted them loudly as they passed.

"Sorry, no time to talk Okita-san, Tetsus sick." Tatsunosuke replied in one breath and then ran off.

"Oh, But I don't think dragging him around like that is helping." Souji said to nobody in particular.

"I think your worrying too much, Tatsunosuke." Yamazaki's voice remained calm as he leaned against the doorway of the bookkeeping quarters.

"I guess, but he did collapse." Tatsunosuke said. Tetsu lay beside him, covered and with a cool rag on his forehead. Tatsu stared at his younger brother in a daze, until Yamazaki brought him out of it.

"Only because he overdid it." The watcher had a point. Tetsunosuke muttered something incoherent in his slumber and rolled onto his side. Yamazaki shrugged and walked away, not wanting Tatsu to see the awkward smile on his face.

Hijikata had returned to his room and had Souji doing Tetsunosuke's tasks for the page while he was sick. A slight headache had come to him after the earlier events, but it didn't keep him from reading his Haiku book. Something had bothered the Vice Commander since he had handed his page over to Tatsunosuke.

After he realized he had read over the same poem four times, he considered what was bothering him. Could it be he was actually concerned for Tetsunosuke's well-being? Maybe he should ask if the boy was alright.

"Souji." Hijikata called out Okita's name. The long haired male came quickly and with his usual smile across his face.

"Yes, Hijikata-san?"

"Tell me-," He stopped, heavily reconsidering swallowing his pride and asking about Tetsu. Hijikata shook his head. "Nevermind."

"Okay," With that, Souji exited the room and headed towards the pig pen. Upon arrival, Saizo separated himself from the other pigs and trotted over to his owner. Okita gathered up the small animal in his arms and looked above the Shinsengumi's walls.

"It's getting dark soon. Lets check on Tetsu and then wait for Nagakura-san and Harada-san to come back from patrol." He told the pig and then walked toward the bookkeeper's room. As the young swordsman walked down the halls of the Shinsengumi, complaining loudly of boredom, he heard the main doors open with a loud bang.

"Oh! They're back!" Souji cried with joy as he nearly ran toward the doors. He knew the jokers would not have a second thought about keeping him entertained. When he caught sight of the second units Captain being carried in by Sanosuke, his joy faded instantly.

Sanosuke yelled an order for bandages and water, but Okita had barley heard him. When the tenth unit Captain raised his voice, Souji nodded and ran to gather the supplies requested. On his way, he stopped by Hijikata's room and informed him on what was going on.

The Vice Commander closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose before rising to his feet and following Okita. He was in for a long night.

Spap: That's it! That's chapter two! Thank you to all who reviewed chapter one! More reviews and I'll continue. Flames will be used to light joints (and I'll share with all the nice reviewers).