Denial of Interest

Author's Notes: This is going to be a more serious fic, so just warning you guys in advance. The name is kind of corny and nonsensical, but I couldn't come up with a better one without borrowing one from my list of anime music.

Anyway, here's chapter 1. I hope to continue this, but I'm not sure if my inspiration will hold out long enough.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama. It belongs to Hideaki Sorachi.

"Even those who share the same common goal may become enemies."

It was just another humid summer night in Edo; people returning home after a long day's work, mischievous children straying beyond the watchful eyes of their parents, the occasional thug being apprehended by the city's guardians. There was nothing abnormal about the situation... and nothing notable about this night.

In the case of Kotarou Katsura, however, merely living was a struggle in itself. He plotted to change the country from within, and while he had used violent techniques in the past, his heart had changed after a meeting with one of his old comrades from the Joui War... but he was still a wanted man, and he still had to hide from the government's most skilled watchdogs - the Shinsengumi.

If anything could be said about Katsura's life, it was far from boring or ordinary. And there was no greater proof of that fact than this night; while everyone else lived their lives as they did every other day, Katsura hid in an alleyway and watched the street outside to ensure that there were no dogs of the government sniffing about.

There weren't. The person that caught his eye was someone he knew... a young woman with long black hair and a single brown eye. They had only met a few times before, but due to their similarities, Katsura had branded this woman his rival.

The heir to the Yagyu clan, Kyubei - a woman raised as a man, just as skilled with the sword as any true samurai, and always wary around the opposite gender.

"...Sir Kyubei."

Katsura addressed her in a quiet tone; he didn't expect an answer, but was surprised when she stopped and turned to look at the alleyway he was hiding in. The Joui leader's survival instincts flared up - he was not about to lose to Kyubei, whether it be a contest of wits, character, or strength, and he had a feeling that, for once, this contest would be of the last sort.

And, just as Katsura thought that, Kyubei darted into the alley; before he knew it, the Joui had a sword at his throat. He took a step back, alarmed by the suddenness of the attack... had Kyubei sensed his intent and moved to silence him first?

If the situation were any different, Katsura would have parried the sword with his own... but he was caught off-guard by the fact that Kyubei even had a sword in the first place, and he noted that her speed was greater than he thought her capable of.

"Zura." Kyubei sheathed her sword and peered at Katsura, her expression blank. "Did you want to speak with me about something?"

Katsura narrowed his eyes in response. "No, I did not. I happened to notice you, and that is all. If it is a swordfight you desire, I will not back down from your challenge."

"...A challenge, you say?" Kyubei perked up at this. "I suppose there's no harm in doing so." She paused to draw her sword, and a faint smile crossed her face. "Be on your guard, Zura!"

Katsura did not fail to notice Kyubei's smile - regardless of her intent with that expression, to him, it was a condescending statement, a symbol of how she looked down on him. But at this point, only one thing needed to be said... and as he drew his own sword, the Joui leader's gaze hardened into a glare.

"It's not Zura. It's Katsura."

Kyubei still didn't understand why Katsura seemed to hate her; they had been comrades in the past, and as strange as he was, Katsura didn't seem the type to hold a grudge so easily. When he called out to her in the alleyway, Kyubei didn't know who it was at first, and her body reacted before her mind did - but then he challenged her, and for some reason beyond her understanding, it wasn't just a duel.

The raven-haired Joui attacked with intent to kill. His style was similar to Gintoki's, so Kyubei at least had an idea of what to expect, but never before had she seen such fury in Katsura's eyes... and she never expected him to go all out.

The battle ended with Kyubei's retreat; no matter how dishonorable it was, she didn't know the reason for that fight, and there should have been no reason for him to attack her so viciously. They were comrades, after all, and at times, Kyubei would dare to go as far as to call Katsura a friend... but that was no longer an apt description of their relationship.

What had gone wrong between them? After what they'd been through together, what created this resentment? And was there any way to resolve this situation?

These questions raced through Kyubei's mind on her way back to the Yagyu estate; without knowing what was wrong in the first place, she couldn't even begin to fix things. It was true that their personalities were similar at times, and that Katsura sometimes got upset with her over that, but that fact was trivial at most - nothing to break a friendship over. And it was also true that she was the heir to a family with close ties to the government, and he was openly opposed to the government... but she never cared much for her supposed 'celebrity' position, and she didn't think that was the reason for his outburst, either.

Of course, now was not the time to think about it; it was already late, and Kyubei should've been in bed already. Perhaps she could consider this more tomorrow, and maybe even meet up again with Katsura to discuss it-

"Oi. You shouldn't be walking alone so late at night."

Kyubei recognized the voice; a rough voice, hardened by years of smoking. She glanced back to see the Shinsengumi vice-commander, Toushirou Hijikata, standing behind her - just like their first meeting, he mistook her for someone younger than she actually was.

"...I can handle myself," the Yagyu heir shot back, as she turned around and stepped closer - close enough that Hijikata would have no excuse if he continued his warning. "Did you forget my face already?"

"Oh." Hijikata narrowed his eyes and frowned. "It's you."

Kyubei gave a single nod, then turned back and continued on her way. She didn't need protection... the only person that could give her pause at this point was Katsura, and there was no way he'd show up in the same place as Hijikata.

Before she could move out of hearing range, however, Kyubei heard Hijikata's voice again. "Be careful, you. The Joui have been getting more active lately, and who knows what they're up to... there was a bombing not too far from here just yesterday. Best to stay away from 'em."

'A bombing...' Kyubei repeated those words in her head with a frown; Katsura would never do something like that, so she dismissed the possibility of him generally becoming more violent as of late. Still, it was something to worry about for both of them... even though Katsura was a Joui himself, and the leader of his own faction, there were other factions, and no matter what sort of goal they all had, there would be conflict so long as there was a difference in opinion. And though Hijikata couldn't have known about Kyubei's fight with Katsura in the alley, there was the possibility that he knew of their connection.

"I'll keep an eye out," Kyubei stated, after a pause. "...You should be careful, too."

Hijikata huffed in response, then began to walk away; Kyubei watched the vice-commander as he left, but didn't say anything else. Her conscience had not been eased at all by his words... and, in fact, she now had even more questions on her mind.

Katsura's life was dangerous enough with the Shinsengumi after him. If he had to worry about his fellow Joui as well, Kyubei considered the possibility that he wouldn't live to see the day that they made up for that fight.

But still, it was no time to think of things like that. Kyubei was tired, and she could seek her answers in the morning... no violent Joui would step near the Yagyu estate, so long as the family's guardians kept watch.

Author's Note: This'll be an exercise in pacing for me, so if I start hurrying things too much, I want you guys - the readers - to call me out on it, okay? I welcome critique, especially when it comes to things like this.

Anyway, thanks for reading!