[Hijikata is this close to defaulting to the 'tell Heisuke to mind his own business' response but oh shit, oh shit.
Heisuke.
He stares openly at the boy, wheels turning as he recalls what people have said about this place. That they can be from another time entirely. That they could be dead. That they could still end up here even if they had disintegrated before his very eyes.
But this is definitely Heisuke--a younger one, with his long hair and old clothes. This is Heisuke before everything had gone to hell. And there's no way it can be a hallucination because he's pretty sure he still hasn't drunk any of that sake.
After regaining some degree of his ability to speak, Hijikata will tentatively ask:]
no subject
Heisuke.
He stares openly at the boy, wheels turning as he recalls what people have said about this place. That they can be from another time entirely. That they could be dead. That they could still end up here even if they had disintegrated before his very eyes.
But this is definitely Heisuke--a younger one, with his long hair and old clothes. This is Heisuke before everything had gone to hell. And there's no way it can be a hallucination because he's pretty sure he still hasn't drunk any of that sake.
After regaining some degree of his ability to speak, Hijikata will tentatively ask:]
Heisuke?