[It's a beautiful day in the castle gardens, which makes all these grim tales seem even further away than they are... though they likely feel much closer to Gokudera. Hijikata nods at the explanation of the dying will. That's honestly pretty badass; why doesn't Gintama have anything like that?

He inspects the offered ring, but doesn't try to put it on. It belongs to Gokudera's cherished boss, after all, and is a pretty important memento. Harmonising sky flames, huh... delinquents like Gokudera and him really always end up devoting themselves to kind leaders, it seems. He gives it back to him and listens as he continues.

God, all the messed-up worlds Gokudera ended up on are hard to keep track of. Honestly, he may just be the person who's been put through the worst bullshit out of everyone Hijikata knows. As Gokudera finishes he first clarifies what he thinks may have been a misunderstanding.]

I meant, before you'd turn into a zombie. Isn't it common for infected people to kill themselves while they still have their human mind and feelings? But, about your "owner"... he took off your collar, and you used your flames, and that's how you died? How come you still have the collar now, then? Were you brought here from before that happened? Then how do you have those memories?

[These multiverse trips are such a goddamn headache.]