Idle hands are the Demon’s playthings.

What-ifs/alternate timelines

What if Hijikata had been injured in Osaka instead of Sanan? Would he have made similar decisions? In the event that he drank the Water of Life, would he remain in the forefront of the Shinsengumi or be presumed dead like Sanan? What role would Sanan take instead? How would this affect the plot and characterization in general?

What if Hijikata was as popular in Shimabara as his historical counterpart? What if he and Kimigiku had a dalliance, as in history? How would this romance affect his personality and actions, if at all? Would Chizuru still be in the picture for him, or would her ‘canon’ love interest change accordingly?

What if Hijikata and Chizuru’s relationship was assumed to have escalated much earlier on, given the traditional roles of a samurai and his page? Would Hijikata try to prove these rumors wrong somehow, or would he act on them instead? Would Chizuru? In the latter case, would theirs be a romantic connection, or purely physical? Would that affect Chizuru’s other prospects?

“Of course I worry,” says Chizuru, the words bursting out of her as though she has been holding them back for a long time. “Constantly.”

“Now look what you’ve done,” complains Hijikata, resting a reassuring hand on Chizuru’s shoulder. “I’ll tell you the same thing I’ve told her: we’re staying well out of the way, and I’m going by an alias these days. Besides that, I don’t go out as often as Chizuru here, and I’m getting older all the time.” He smiles. “Sooner or later, I’m going to be unrecognizable.”

“It’s true that we haven’t had any close calls yet,” says Chizuru. “The new government is busy focusing on the people trying to escape Ezo; they don’t expect anyone on the losing side to stay here. But it’s only a matter of time.”

“That’s why we have our plans,” says Hijikata, affectionately impatient. “Get out of the situation by any means necessary, and then move elsewhere. As often as we have to, even if it takes all our lives, until we find a safe place to call home.”

“Not by any means,” Chizuru corrects him, frowning. “Not if it means using your fury powers.”

Hijikata sighs. “We’ve been over this,” he says. “And we’re never going to agree. But… I’ll concede this time, so you don’t have to worry more than you already do.” He nudges her gently. “There, you see? I’m letting it drop for once. You can relax now.”

“That’s not very reassuring, Toshizo-san,” mumbles Chizuru, but she seems more than a little relieved at his lighter tone nonetheless.

“Chizuru’s not a kid anymore, you know,” points out Hijikata. “No, I don’t tickle her. Pinch her, sometimes, but that’s about as far as I can go.” He shakes his head. “You’d have to be crazier than me to tickle a demon. She doesn’t know her own strength, so if she accidentally kicked me or something, it’d hurt—and then she’d start fretting about it nonstop.” He laughs. “Safer if I just show my affection in other ways.”