Author's note: Hi, I'm Akely~ This is the re-written first chap of Crimson Soul! Hope it pleases you! There's going to be a lot of change- like Kagura being way less OP than the last version, Kana changing to Kouka- so I hope you guys will prefer this version. Anyway, the next chap is already in the phase of writing, so expect Chapter 2 soon, both for Crimson Soul and Of Royalties and Complications !
Crimson Soul
Stray
They looked at the sky, unlike the last time it was of a beautiful azure, cloudless while the sun darted on Edo.
How long have they been training, hidden at Bushu in order to escape the new shogun Nobu-Nobu? Five years, already, five long years of boredom, anxiety and anger where the Shinsengumi was forced to stay silent. But now, they were finally going back to their beloved city, and meet the ones who always supported them, and protected Edo in their state.
A squad of men, clad in a dark uniform, followed the lead of three figures; Kondo Isao, Hijikata Toshiro, and Okita Sougo.
They didn't change much, if not for their eyes burning of determination, or how satisfied they looked, staring at the buildings in front of them. Small houses, busy streets but more importantly, a small group waiting on the other side of the bridge, for them.
"Tax-robbers finally came back, uh? Have you guys been lazing around? It's been a century already." Gintoki mocked, making his signature troll face although he was in fact, as happy as everyone to find their friends in a perfect state. Well, 'friends' might be overstated, they were sort-of comrades who had the tendencies to get under each other's skins every time they met. But they also fought alongside for the same cause and ideal, how odd, he noted.
"Shut up, sugar-lover. We are back, ten times stronger so we can arrest specimen like you since I'm sure you still don't pay your rent!" The former vice-chief yelled back, amusing the gorilla at his side. It couldn't be helped if they felt nostalgic with the two men's usual bickering.
After more talking— or more like shouting— they went to the Snack Smile, the infamous hostess club in the Kabuki district. Otae and many others people were already here, having thoroughly prepared a party for the long-awaited reunion.
The Yoshiwara hyakkas, the Joui patriots, and even the Kaientai were present, yet Okita noted the significant lack of a certain vermillion haired brat. He would be lying if he said that he didn't miss her, and their sparring.
Undeniably, China became someone special for him. It was not something he could explain nor understand, but their farewell proved him that she was not just a rival to duel with. Kondo, when asked about these foreign feelings, immediately told him that he 'grew up so much' and 'his son finally found love'.
Love? No way. This brat is, at the best, a close friend. Nothing more. Nonetheless, his eyes searched across the room for her and only, but he was left with nothing. Maybe should he ask Danna? She was with him and the man acted as her surrogate father, so he must know.
"Where's the China brat? Did she die or something?" He deadpanned, even if her fellow former police officers could read concern, even worry, they dared to say.
"Oh, you're talking about Kagura-chan?" To his surprise, it was the resident Megane who answered him, not without a sly smile. "She's a bit late, it's normal. She told us that it takes quite some time to do the distance between Earth and her home planet." He explained, sensing the next question.
"She went back to her home planet?!" To say Okita Sougo was pissed would be understating it. Didn't they promise, that she would stay here to defend the place for him? So he could train with a peace of mind in Bushu?
Shinpachi nodded, "Lot of things happened, and Kagura-chan have decided to train and get stronger too. Besides, Kamui-san said something about Yato puberty so she would have to do it either way." He didn't really understand; however, it didn't shock him if the strongest race in the whole universe has a different metabolism. They may be humanoid, but their strength demonstrated that they were, indeed, different.
Okita sighed, he couldn't do much anyway, it was better to discuss the topic with the concerned. For now, he'll just enjoy the party, he chose while pouring some sake in a cup and drinking it in one sip. The next hour was passed like this, joking from time to time about Hijikata and his uselessness.
Suddenly, in the middle of their chat, someone knocked on the door. When Otae made opened, a bunch of hooded figures entered.
"Oh, it's them Okita-san." Came the cheery tone of the glasses.
"Anego," saluted the smallest figure. "Sorry, our ship took more time than we expected."
Otae shook her head, smiling brightly. "Don't worry, it doesn't matter, as long as you're safe." She assured, her hand taking off the heavy, gray cloak. The woman then widened her eyes, gasping softly at the now revealed girl. "My, you've grown quite nicely Kagura-chan."
Indeed, this 'Yato puberty' was no joke. The brat Okita once knew morphed into a blooming young woman. She sprouts some inches whereas her hair has been grown— vermillion locks fell beneath her small back. The usual messy front strands have been divided more clearly, making three defined sides adorning her more matured face. Once big round cerulean eyes sharpened, complimented with long lashes.
She definitely felt…more feminine.
Not only because of how the white cheongsam hugged her body, now developed nicely, the aura did the job. The way she acted, her manners (which improved, Okita noted), everything was first a change within. She looked more calm. Perhaps, soothed and relieved of an unknown weight.
"Thank you, Anego. You're always beautiful, though." Responded Kagura, making a polite bow. "And don't worry, we ate earlier so you guys won't run out of food."
"Oi," he tried to get her attention when she just sat in between the wall and himself. "You're still a brat, China." Of course, teasing her was his immediate reaction, it's hard to suppress a habit, you know?
"I greet you too, Sadist." Her face grimaced a bit, but then she did a thing that would never happen usually: her lips curved into a smile— a genuine, warm one, not a cheeky grin. "Welcome back."
Okita Sougo was at loss for any words, his heart skipped a beat for a second before his mind worked again. "You lost your aru-aru accent, huh? I wonder why is that the effect of going away from the Earth?" He then bitterly accused.
Our promise, China. Was it not important for you?
"I didn't break our promise, the Yorozuya defended Edo for you guys, and I didn't lose to anyone else." She argued back.
"You didn't accomplish the protecting job, China." I didn't care about the glasses or danna, I wanted YOU to do it.
Kagura pointed her brother and father, discussing with Gintoki. "I quitted Yorozuya temporary, so I could go with them instead. Now if you don't mind, I'll go to Gin-chan and Megane." She concluded, standing up and running towards her surrogate family, hugging the silver perm with anticipation.
"Sougo, you should have been gentler with her, for a awaited reunion like today!" Kondo reprimanded, having observed the scene while he talked with Otae. He expected a heart-warming welcome back, not the young boy criticizing the girl at first sight. "I'm sure she had her own reasons to leave."
"He's right, after all, she's been yearning for her family to come back. Who wouldn't go? You're not an example too," Hijikata intervened, smoking his cigarette. The sadistic boy was not better, in term of family, and could go to the extreme for the now deceased Mitsuba. It always stung both of their hearts, reminiscing the memories of the meek and generous woman. However, that's also why he used this precise argument.
Kondo put his hand on Okita's shoulder, looking at him seriously. "Go apologize and reconcile correctly, you missed her, right? Hurry."
It irked him to no end, why do the gorilla and mayonnaise-lover want to push him so much? Who cares, China can do whatever she wanted to. "Hurry for what? She's just busy with danna and Megane, that's all."
His grunt only amused more Hijikata, though. He and Kondo were convinced, Okita Sougo, the prince of sadist, definitely liked the China girl. If only he wasn't so prideful…They wouldn't need to advise him so much." Sougo, she's still fifteenth, but both you and I know that she's already a blossoming young woman now. What if there's already someone pursuing her? Go, before another man steal her from you." Hijikata knew exactly how to upset the boy. "Or maybe she's already taken, that's right, you won't mind, right? Since you don't care at all."
That was enough to make the boy get up, growl at him and go in the direction of where Kagura was. Taken? What kind of male would be mad or stupid enough to fall for this kind of girl? But she changed, Sougo. His mind reminded him. That's right, she might still be cheeky and conserved her strong attitude, but she grew up.
She's not a brat anymore.
How can some years do this? He cursed mentally.
"China." He grabbed her hand, pulling her further from possible distraction, like danna and glasses stand. "Let's forget this promise thing for a moment, how's been outer space?" He tried to change of topic, releasing his grasp and sitting down, soon followed by the girl.
"Well, I stayed at the Yato's home planet for a moment, it's a destroyed place and there's not really anything to see. But we could fight, against a really strong alien species." Orochi, to be more precise. Umibouzu wanted to make them Kouan's masters as well before they part ways again. Kamui was a space pirate, Kagura an odd-job worker and himself, a famous alien hunter. It was fated for them to separate again— and it would be already the case if the young girl didn't ask her older brother and father to train together. "Then we did many jobs."
This much to keep being at their sides, to reunite the family she yearned for. She knew it wouldn't last forever, but she was satisfied with it. Over time and experience, she learned to give up.
"I see." There was nothing more to say, or at least, Okita's mind was not working well. They didn't see each other for a while too, and he was quite unnerved at the actual Kagura. "I never thought that Katsura and his men would be working with us one day," he tried to change of topic. "Or even just the Harusame and us." He glanced at her brother.
"There's no police force, no pirates, no patriots, no anything, during this kind time. Even the Yorozuya is not really the Yorozuya." The redhead was not distressed at what she said, it was only the truth after all. "We're all considered as rebels or traitors. We're like a big troop of stray cats. We don't exactly belong here, but this is our home at the same time. That's why we fight."
Sougo cocked an eyebrow, sipping a bit of sake before speaking again. "Being poetic now, China? It's a bit too refined for you, don't you think?" He liked to taunt her, to see her getting mad at him, and get her attention. Not that it was anything special, Sadists are usually always this egoist and possessive, even towards their rival. Like how he wouldn't allow anyone else but him to beat her.
"Shut up, Do-S bastard, I'm trying to have a nice talk here, for once!" She glared at him, letting hi mesmerized into her deep ocean orbs as if they were precious sapphires.
China was here, in front of him, like before. Yet, it was certainly distinct from one year ago. They'd never be sitting and chatting as if they were good friends or companions.
No, that's not true. He remembered her heart-breaking smile, up on the bridge while he was thrown into the river beneath. And many other things, the cliff, how depressed he was when the Shinsengumi has been disbanded nevertheless she came, with her own way, to console him.
"Didn't you say that you know that we are your police force?" Now that he thought about it, didn't the girl change of opinion. Or contradicted herself.
"Strays can be whatever they want to be, and the other strays acknowledge it. In the end, we're all the same and understand each other, we just want things to return to its original state, am I right?" She inquired, never would have she thought that she'll have this kind of serious discussions with the prince of Sadist. "The thing it to make the new Shogun and the Tendoshu Naraku accept it, too. Or more like, we are targeting them because they are the one who changed the flow."
"So we're all in the same boat, uh?" Sougo nodded weakly, having a hunch that it won't be this simple. Utsuro, the Naraku's and a coup d'état? As if it would be a piece of cake, even with this coalition. They were partying now, but who knows what might happen the next days? Planning? Training again? His head hurts just thinking about it.
"How about we drink to forget? Just this night, China. You're well over thirteenth, after all."
Kagura paused a bit, hesitant, before accepting the cup of rice beverage extended to her. "All right, just for this night."
She should have been smarter and wiser than that, maybe it was the nostalgia who pushed her to accept the Sadist's damn offer.
The world was so dark around her, and her head ached so much, so that was a hungover? How could Gintoki endure this pain each morning, and still go play pachinko and drinking each night? Kagura groaned, light was too still too binding to open her eyes.
The only good thing was this warm feeling around her chest as if someone was breathing….
Wait.
There was a weight resting on her, something alive because she could feel a chest going up and down regularly.
Maybe should she open her eyes, even if it would burn them?
And so the female did, only to meet flaxen colored hair, right on her chest. Sadist. He was still sleeping peacefully, sure comfortably installed.
I should make Gin-chan or Pachi remind me to not ever drink again, she thought, cold pearls of sweat rolling from her forehead to her chin, obviously uneasy with the situation. What could she do now, with this stupid rotten boy's face buried in-between her breasts? How did he end up here, in the first place? Did they do something inappropriate, under the alcohol's influence?
"Sadist, wake up. NOW." She hissed, trying to push his head away from her innocent body. Happily, enough, it was not like she woke up naked next to him, like those soap operas.
"Hmm, shut up Hijibaka-san, the pillow is soft…." Came the response from the late teenager, who was soon going to die, killed by an angry Yato female.
Kagura was already red from anger, and probably also of embarrassment. "S.A.D.I.S.T !"