The Samurai Hunt: Silver Linings

["-Breaking news. At around 11am, a man wielding a knife killed three people in Kabuki train station and wounded at least 2 others. He is said to have shouted 'to hell with the bakufu' amongst other terrorist remarks during the attacks, and one witness stated the man declared allegiance to the terrorist organisation, Skylark, which has claimed responsibility for at least three other similar attacks over the past six months. Ketsuno Ana is at the scene now. Kestuno-san?-"

"Hello, I'm standing just metres from the place of the attack which has been cordoned off by the shinsengumi. The perpetrator is said to have escaped and surveillance images are being spread to help his capture. Please, if anyone sees this man, get in contact with the police immediately. Over there, we see Hijikata Toshiro who has only recently resumed action from his ordeal seven months ago. It is speculated that his disappearance, still unresolved by the police, could be connected to this extremist group."

"It seems ridiculous that this group have gone unpunished for all these crimes so far. Who are they and what are the police doing about this?"

"Skylark are formed from several high-profile samurai of the Great War and who are known to have affiliated with jouishishi extremist, Katsura Kotarou amongst others. They are presumed to have broken off from Katsura's faction and now engage in the extremist actions of today. The police are trying their best to establish names and faces of the group and discover their hideaway, however one amanto representative, Kristen of the Yellow Planet, claims their measures are not enough. In a recent interview, he hinted towards efforts to create a new faction of the police with the sole aim of eradicating terrorists and bringing past joui to justice."

"Is that not the purpose of the shinsengumi?"

"This new organisation will be made up of amanto, rather than humans. More information will be coming about this new force over the coming days."]

Though his brain was sending the correct messages, his legs weren't moving. They were stuck. Gintoki was running but it was never fast enough, like his legs were moving through treacle. He cried out in frustration – he needed to get there. If he couldn't use his legs ever again, he didn't care – he needed them now. He called again but everything was still so slow.

"Hijikata!" He shouted to the figure in the distance, using everything he had to run but it was so frustrating. He wasn't getting anywhere. The glimmers of street-lights were morphing into different shapes, crossing his path and then receding again, bubbling up like waves and then falling away. Each time they did so, he was no closer to Hijikata. A fear was setting in, something that froze his limbs up to his neck. He was able to see and to shout, but what good were his eyes when he couldn't reach Hijikata?

"HIJIKATA!" Then, the distant figure turned. With agonising slowness, he faced Gintoki with the face of a skeleton. The boned fingers reached out to him and paralysed his legs until he stopped running. The thin wisps of skin remaining attached stretched across it's jaw as the skeleton smiled. Gintoki was repulsed, he couldn't help it, and the guilt he felt ached his chest. He needed to say something to stop Hijikata from knowing what he was thinking. He didn't want him to know just how sick his appearance was making him.

"I..." He began, searching for the right words. "Love you." He said, knowing that it was a hideous, harrowing lie.

"Gintoki!" Gintoki's eyes snapped open and he sucked in a breath. First things first, he calmed his breathing and felt the slam of his heart grow weaker. He looked at Hijikata, who seemed worried from the small crease in his brow, then let a small smile to show he was okay. He lifted an arm and ran his palm down Hijikata's bare shoulder until it met the covers pulled over them.

"You okay?" Hijikata asked. He nodded, then continued to trace the rise and fall of bone across Hijikata's chest with gentle touches. He was so cold, always had been. Of the two, Gintoki was the human hot-water bottle and often Hijikata pressed his cold feet against him to warm them up. Today especially though, Hijikata was cold. Since he had barely any fat on him, he'd lay awake shivering most nights and eventually Gintoki had needed to invest in a heater. It was on low heat right now but he was still freezing. The sunlight was soft this morning and Gintoki could tell already that the weather was going to be good. The glow on his skin was warm and he could just feel the clear air inviting him. "Nightmare?"

"Mmm," he evaded the question. He knew what Hijikata was thinking and he didn't want to stray onto that subject.

"About what?" He asked. Hijikata would never have asked before the incident. He must know, somehow, that Gintoki wasn't dreaming of the distant past any more. Maybe he was calling things out in his sleep – he hoped not. He didn't want Hijikata to know of his betraying thoughts. He felt like scum.

"Doesn't matter." He said, rolling onto his front to avoid further questions. It was a clear tactic, one Hijikata would undoubtedly see straight through, but then again it didn't let on that his nightmare was any different from the ones he used to have; Hijikata never found about about those either. Gintoki felt Hijikata shift on the bed awkwardly. He was thinking something, and that always set Gintoki on edge. Maybe it was because he always knew what he was thinking, and those things made him paranoid. A few minutes later, Gintoki wasn't far from dozing off again when he felt the cold press of fingertips across his lower back.

"What're you doing?" He grumbled as the fingers pressed away.

"The divots in your back ..." Hijikata said, absent mindedly, "pressin' em."

"Why?"

"I like em." He replied and continued to press there. Gintoki groaned into the pillow and shifted his lower half so that it was more comfortable. The soft presses began to massage instead and Hijikata shuffled to adjust his position.

"That's dangerous, you know."

"I know." There was a smile in his voice. "Maybe I'm doing it on purpose." And maybe Gintoki knew he was. He wasn't going to rise to the teasing though. They'd had sex since the incident, but Gintoki refrained from it more often than not. Hijikata still just felt so breakable, and the difference of the body beneath his hands was something he couldn't get over. Hijikata must know it, too. Gintoki couldn't love Hijikata's new body in the same way he adored the old one. Despite that, he had come a long way since then and he was even beginning to build muscle … yet it looked like a scrawny teenager's form and Gintoki just …. couldn't.

Hijikata's phone rang loud and saved Gintoki from having to find an excuse to get up and escape. Hijikata immediately abandoned the massage and picked up his mobile. It only took a few seconds of conversation for Gintoki to realise that it wasn't good news. He had put on his officer voice and swearing punctuated each sentence. The frown on his face deepened and Gintoki was mildly disappointed when Hijikata got up to put on his uniform. When he hung up, Gintoki didn't need to ask what was wrong.

"Another terrorist attack. At the train station. I'm heading out now." Gintoki wasn't going to tell him not to go, that he was too weak for any action - he knew better than that. Instead, he said,

"Can you take the rubbish outside for me on your way? It's a recycling day."

"Do it yourself, you lazy bastard." Hijikata replied and ripped away the duvet as he did so. Gintoki squirmed and wailed, hating the cold air that now enveloped him. He sent half-hearted kicks in Hijikata's direction, though none of them were aimed to hit. He'd probably snap an ankle by accident.

All these things were on his mind constantly. The situation between them had changed and they were both aware of it, just neither had the balls to bring it up. Their relationship was just so fragile now … but Gintoki needed it more than ever.

Hijikata waved casually as he left the room and once more Gintoki hid his grimace when he saw the way his trousers were loose and his jacket top hung from thin shoulders. He just had to keep telling himself that they were getting there.

They had to be.

"What the hell are you doing here, Zura?" Gintoki sighed, exasperated. He always ran into this fool in the weirdest of places. This time, Gintoki was wandering through the park to take a short cut and he had literally bumped into a huge bear. The bear turned out to have a voice and a hole in the mouth to see through. It didn't take him long to click on who it was, especially when Elizabeth shuffled along behind.

"It's not Zura," Zura glanced around before lifting the head off the suit and freeing his hair with one graceful flick. "It's Kuma. I'm in disguise."

"And what about the duck?"

"What do you mean, duck? Elizabeth is Elizabeth."

"I see." He didn't. "And what about you?"

"I'm a bear." This wasn't getting him anywhere, as usual. Every conversation was a fight.

"Why a bear?"

"So I can blend in."

"With what?! The children's swings?!" He scratched his head and tried to wave away the headache that was on its way. "I don't want to get involved if you're trying to bomb something."

"No, I'm observing someone." He looked around again. "But it seems he won't come here today."

"Maybe he did and ran away when he saw a giant fucking bear." Zura's mouth widened into an 'o' and a light-bulb flickered.

They took to walking side by side in the direction Gintoki had been travelling, passing through the line of trees on either side. The park was empty this morning, which was unusual for the time of day. It created an eerie sort of atmosphere, a sense of emptiness in the air. Not even the birds were singing today.

"Anyway, Gintoki. How's the vice-commander?"

"What makes you ask?"

"We may be on opposite sides of the coin – that doesn't make me heartless." Zura shrugged; Gintoki immediately narrowed his eyes. He was picking up on something - he didn't know what. He had always been adept at reading people and the crafty Zura was no exception.

"You wouldn't usually ask. I mean, he's in the news every few days. Surely you watch the news?"

"Of course," he nodded, taking to fiddling with the head of the bear and fluffing its fur. It was a distraction for him. What was he covering up for? Whatever it was, it wasn't something that Gintoki couldn't know. Zura was skilled at hiding things he wanted to, which could only mean that he was deliberating whether to tell Gintoki or not.

"Were you … involved somehow?" Gintoki asked. Obviously, Zura wouldn't have been part of an act so disgraceful; Gintoki was just very good at pushing people's buttons.

"No! Those guys were banned from my faction!" He exclaimed and immediately knew he'd said too much. Looking at Gintoki's expression, he definitely should have kept this to himself. Gintoki couldn't help the darkness that began to take hold of his mind. It was blurring his sense of control. This topic in particular was one he could not handle with a steady mind, even when he was talking to an old friend.

"You know who did it?" His tone was dangerous and Zura began to wriggle uncomfortably.

"I do."

"Did you know it was going to happen?" Ice cracked between them.

"I knew they were capable of doing outrageous things, but I did not know of any specific plans." He was choosing his words carefully. "Anyway, Gintoki, it's not what you think. You should be thankful to me."

Gintoki's eyebrows shot up. Why would Gintoki need to be thankful? How could Zura be involved in this? If he had not been involved in the capture, how- … The conclusion he came to snapped his eyes open wide. He wasn't sure, but Zura seemed to be answering the one question Gintoki had harboured all this time.

How had he escaped?

"Were you the one who let Hijikata escape?" The lack of reply was answer enough. A lead ball dropped in his stomach. From the way Zura kept a stoic silence, he knew he was right. He owed Zura with more than just a thank you. This was worth every penny he'd ever earn, every hour he'd ever work … the value of that gesture meant oceans. Zura had saved Hijikata from torture. He had saved his life. "Wh..y?"

"I should have kept a tighter surveillance on those criminals. Skylark were born from my faction – in a way, I am responsible. And, like I said, although we do not fight for the same cause, Hijikata is not a bad man. He didn't deserve that."

Gintoki hung his head. He had more words for Zura than he could ever string together. There was no coherence in his brain, just mumbled 'what if's. If Zura hadn't have done what he did …

"Zura," he whispered. "I owe you my life."

He laughed gently. "Is that all?"

"That and a parfait."

A smile edged into his cheeks. "I'll take the parfait."

By the time Hijikata arrived at the scene, there wasn't much he could do. The regular police were on the search for the criminal and all the witnesses had already been taken to hospital for shock where they'd also be interviewed. He found himself stood around waiting for Kondo to declare it time to leave, itching his trousers up his hips a little more every few minutes. He was loath to ask for a smaller size.

"Thought you were off-duty today?" Sougo commented, stepping beside him.

"I was," Hijikata exhaled smoke towards the sky, "I got called in." Sougo clicked his tongue.

Hijikata ignored that and revelled in the taste of nicotine. He was strictly limited, not by his doctor, but by Gintoki who now hated the thought of him anywhere near a cigarette. He wasn't at any specific risk by doing it, just Gintoki was mollycoddling him nowadays. That was enough to make him frown. To be honest, he didn't have as many withdrawal symptoms now. After all, he had gone four months without a single fag. Smoking would always be something he enjoyed. Lighting a cigarette when he was thinking helped him concentrate. Or maybe it didn't, it just felt like it did.

"Your boyfriend not stalking you today?" Yes, he had been doing that.

"Seems not." Hijikata replied bitterly. It was another thing Gintoki had taken to doing. He'd find any excuse to be within proximity of Hijikata. He was sure it wasn't a needy thing, it was to calm his nerves. At first, it had put him at ease to have him around. Eventually, it became undignified. And distracting. Gintoki really didn't need to keep checking on him.

"Maybe he's just gotten really good at it."

"Maybe he's found himself a life."

"You know him better than that."

"Do I?" It hadn't meant to come out, but he'd said it anyway. Because recently, Gintoki hadn't been himself. By 'himself', that meant the laid-back idiot he usually was. Most of the time now, Gintoki was highly strung. He was constantly thinking of something. Hijikata could see his mind wander away and a frown would darken his brow. He was paranoid and edgy, never comfortable when he was outside with Hijikata or doing any sort of remotely active activity. He worried and whined, never aloud, just written blatantly on his face as though Hijikata couldn't see it as starkly as he could. The few times he relaxed was when they were simply sat, chatting. In those moments, everything returned to how things used to be. Hijikata had never considered himself high maintenance …

Right now though, he seemed to be draining. Draining the life out of his lover. He tried to touch Gintoki, hold him, make him feel at ease. Instead, it was just like coiling a spring and horrifyingly, each time he did so, Gintoki just seemed more tense. There was nothing he could do for him. Nothing he could do but sit in an iron box all day, sipping water and eating until he returned to the person he used to be. Even then, would Gintoki be able to let go of what had happened?

Of course he wouldn't. He still dreamed of a time over ten years ago when he had been forced to kill his teacher. If he could hold onto that for as long as he had, he sure could continue to be haunted by the events of this year. And yet, Gintoki didn't talk about any of this. And if he didn't bring it up, Hijikata couldn't ask all the things he wanted to know.

Do you blame yourself?

Do you hate my body now?

Are you nervous around me?

… Do you still love me?

Yet Hijikata … already felt he knew the answers.

"We've got a better print-out of the assailant." Yamazaki ran over and presented the sheet to Sougo who cast a lazy glance at it.

"At least he has some recognisable features."

"They could be prosthetic. Lemme see," Hijikata took the sheet from him and straightened it. The moment he set eye on the criminal, his heart began to pound uncontrollably. Sougo cocked his head to the side and watched.

Oblivious to Hijikata's silence, Yamazaki began to point to the sheet: "The scar here runs from his lower lip down to his chin. It appears as though his lip had been cut open and then stitched up – it's a big give-away if it's real."

Hijikata thrust the paper away from him and back to Yamazaki. Holding the paper scorched his fingertips. If he held onto it for much longer, everyone would be able to see the shake in his hands. He knew instinctively that this man had been involved in his capture. He didn't need to have any memory of that to be shook by innate fear right down into the marrow of his bones. That face had been registered with his entire soul – he wouldn't make a mistake like this.

"Skylark," Sougo mumbled. Hijikata flinched and his eyes shot over to meet Sougo's. "Says he's a part of the group but they haven't claimed absolute responsibility yet."

"A-ah, no." It was obvious that Sougo was probing but Hijikata was reluctant to let his fear show. They could solve this case without delving further into the incident. "It won't take them long though. Yamazaki, distribute this picture to the media and police force."

"Yes sir."

"Sougo, what are your plans next?"

"Hmm, let's see," he pulled out a notebook from his pocket and flipped through the pages. "Glue the soles of Hijikata's shoes, apply black shoe polish to his binoculars, apply a waxing strip to his eyebrows when he's sleeping-"

"I'll kill you, you fox-like bastard."

"Also on the list for today is to see danna." He finished and began to cross a few notes off with a pen. Eyebrows raised, Hijikata allowed the cigarette in his mouth to drop away. He quickly stubbed it out with his boot and coughed, "why?" Innocent red eyes blinked back at him.

"Just for a catch up."

["The name of The Station Murderer has been released by police, along with images of his profile. Masahiro Fuse was last seen in CCTV footage entering a waiting vehicle outside of the station directly after the incident. This vehicle was found two days later, abandoned outside of Kabuki. Police have also revealed the names of other known conspirators, including: …. These men should be avoided as far as possible and immediately reported to the police.

New information has been revealed regarding the anti-terrorist justice organisation, now known as SparrowHawk. Ambassador Kristen has stated that the group is already compiling a list of samurai who have escaped the justice system, including the larger names such as Katsura Kotaro, members of Skylark and any other known joui. The group will consist of ex-military amanto from across the universe. They will team up with the shinsengumi to meet their goal of 'ending terrorism for good in Edo'."]