[ Does he need permission, or is he simply not used to having to speak with others in this kind of fashion? Kondou is sure there are few people in this world he feels as though he can speak frankly with... But this may turn out to be a problem. ]
...the vice-commander had not told me that Kazama was in Zelien.
[It's a little more quiet than the tone he's been using. Because for all that he's angry about it, it doesn't really feel right to let what he's upset with Hijikata for bleed out onto Kondou.
Or maybe he's just had more time to feel hurt about it than angry, after that first day.]
And you're upset that he had not told you sooner. Do you think that you would have been better equipped to deal with it, if the news had come earlier?
[ It's not an accusation but a question, though a difficult one at that to be sure. Kondou may not know as well as some what that fight cost Saitou, but he can guess. It's why he wants to try and help smooth this over however he possibly can. ]
[It's not to say that he wouldn't have been angry at all, if not for that, but with enough time having passed for him to look at things a bit more objectively, Saitou's fairly certain things wouldn't have gone quite as badly with Hijikata if he hadn't been in such a bad state mentally from that.]
But for the most part, things have improved across the board now?
[ He asks because he genuinely cares, and because if there's anything that he can actually do in order to assist Saitou, he wants to try his best. It's a difficult situation that he's in, after all, and Kondou is supposed to be the Shinsengumi's leader.
Even if he doesn't actually feel like it most of the time. ]
[That Kazama situation isn't exactly - good, even if knowing he has his sword arm back helps immensely (but doesn't quiet the part of him that worries about whether it really matters).
[ The answer makes him feel guilty, but at the same time, he can't help but feel relieved. An odd mixture, to be sure. It's because he knows that Saitou would be honest with him, and surely this means that he has everything under control.
... Right? ]
Then before I dismiss you, I have one further thing that I wish to ask of you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Does he need permission, or is he simply not used to having to speak with others in this kind of fashion? Kondou is sure there are few people in this world he feels as though he can speak frankly with... But this may turn out to be a problem. ]
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[It's a little more quiet than the tone he's been using. Because for all that he's angry about it, it doesn't really feel right to let what he's upset with Hijikata for bleed out onto Kondou.
Or maybe he's just had more time to feel hurt about it than angry, after that first day.]
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[ It's not an accusation but a question, though a difficult one at that to be sure. Kondou may not know as well as some what that fight cost Saitou, but he can guess. It's why he wants to try and help smooth this over however he possibly can. ]
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[He hesitates for a moment before he continues, but if he's being honest here -]
I do not believe I was well-equipped to deal with anything, last week.
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[ There's no judgement in his tone; Kondou simply wants to know, so that he can try his best to help somehow. ]
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[It's not to say that he wouldn't have been angry at all, if not for that, but with enough time having passed for him to look at things a bit more objectively, Saitou's fairly certain things wouldn't have gone quite as badly with Hijikata if he hadn't been in such a bad state mentally from that.]
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[ He asks because he genuinely cares, and because if there's anything that he can actually do in order to assist Saitou, he wants to try his best. It's a difficult situation that he's in, after all, and Kondou is supposed to be the Shinsengumi's leader.
Even if he doesn't actually feel like it most of the time. ]
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[That Kazama situation isn't exactly - good, even if knowing he has his sword arm back helps immensely (but doesn't quiet the part of him that worries about whether it really matters).
The Hijikata situation -
- well, the less said of that, the better.]
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Sometimes he has a bad habit of making things worse, instead of making them better. ]
Is there anything that I can do to assist you?
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- is never the answer Saitou will give for anything.]
...no, sir.
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... Right? ]
Then before I dismiss you, I have one further thing that I wish to ask of you.
[ Now Kondou looks troubled. ]
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[ Hiding, not residing, Kondou. ]
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[...mostly.]
But he has also been spending quite a bit of time outside, alone.
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[ Kondou needs to go and find Souji, and make things right again. ]
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...a lot, probably, but that doesn't mean he's any good at saying it.]