His cigarettes were nowhere to be found. He must have left them in his uniform when he changed into these pajamas. Hijikata shot a glare down at the smiley face on the shirt and wondered just how trashed he must have gotten to have voluntarily worn the thing.

Not trashed enough not to be almost completely sober now, apparently. "Minor what" indeed. Damn, he really needed a cigarette right now. Or at least something that'd get him either relaxed or high enough to deal with this.

Hijikata was just about to chew the smartass out when the boy turned what looked to be a genuine shade of scarlet, causing Hijikata to stop and take notice. Gaze sharpening in focus, Hijikata paid better attention to the boy as he continued speaking, eyes narrowed and wary when the boy finished.

........confused, huh? Damn straight, that kid was. Calling his lover a concubine...honestly. Just who do this brat think he was? The Shogun or something?

"Hijikata Toshirou," he said, voice level and professional. So much for the "get high again" strategy. Who knew that conversation had such a sobering effect?

"And just where do you think I think we are?"