* Strand DEAD*
2
by: WhiteGloves
"The best lives are those that are lived while getting a little dirty."
~Gintoki Sakata~
(Yorozuya enemy on the loose!)
~Enjoy reading!~
There was a sound of hammer on a nail. It went like that for a few seconds...
"Um... Gin-san...?" Shinpachi tried to speak with eyes levelled as he stood by with shoulder hunched and face almost expressionless.
"Huh?" there was a continuous sound of hammer.
"Um... ano... what exactly happened here?"
"Can't you guess? Some neurotic bastards came to pay a visit and blew the whole damn door up."
"Yeah... you just said that...Katsura-san and the Shinsengumi huh..." Shinpachi pointed upward, "but that doesn't explain why we don't have a roof."
Gintoki looked up the place where the usual dark ceiling of his roof now gone and replaced by the blue sky with a bird hanging on it. The Yorozuya leader stared up at and gave a short pause. Shinpachi then pointed to a thing Kagura was playing with a stick on the floor—it was a live thing squiggling while its whole body was tied with a rope—something quite familiar to a woman ninja.
"Never mind that," Gintoki muttered turning to his work, "just a casualty."
"The roof's the casualty?" Shinpachi turned to the woman on the floor with eyes not visible on his glasses. "You sacrificed a roof just to catch Sarutobi-san. And Gin-san just where exactly are you hammering that nail?"
The Yorozuya leader stood there by the window and was continuously hammering a nail on the wall.
"You just like to pretend you're hammering on something so that people who walked by would think you are repairing the house, aren't you?"
Gintoki did not respond but continued hammering.
"So I'm correct?" Shinpachi gave up, "you don't want people to think you're not doing anything about the destroyed roof and door aren't you? Why don't you just really do it so you can really finish something!"
"I told you Gin-chan's trying to kill himself, Shinpachi," Kagura got up from her position. "He'll hammer his head there later."
"Hey!" the leader turned to the Yato girl, "so you two really gave Zura that stupid idea! No wonder that stupid guy went here and destroyed the place in the process!"
"Yiee, we didn't know Katsura-san was there Gin-san," the megane boy answered, "If we did we wouldn't have told him a thing."
"Yeah, coz Zura believes what he hears." Kagura piped up, "We know he's that stupid."
"Stop calling someone stupid when you're the one spreading that stupid idea!" went Gintoki.
"But you called him stupid so we call him stupid, what are being so stupid for, Gin-chan?"
"Oi, where did you learn that stupid language, Kagura? If your old man hears you he will cry."
"It's probably because of some stupid adult I have around me."
"You talking about your teacher at school? Want me to talk to that stupid teacher? Huh?"
"It's okay. You're more stupid than my teacher so you can talk to yourself, Gin-chan."
"Hey, that's enough stupid talk you two" Shinpachi raised his voice, "it's stupid enough for you two to argue about pointless things and like I said—we really didn't know Katsura-san was there."
"He's probably wearing something weird again that's why we didn't notice him," Kagura grabbed a piece of the roof and threw it away so that she could sit on the couch it was lying on while Gintoki resumed hammering a nail, "Maybe he was that dog Sadaharu was chasing awhile ago."
"Er... I don't think so, Kagura-chan."
"Then that old man with a bent spinal cord?"
"That's possible."
"He might just be a poop on the ground," Gintoki said too with the resume of the hammer sound.
"Zura really likes his costumes." Kagura finally concluded, "so if criminals wear costume they don't get caught, huh?"
"That only works on certain shows," Gintoki went to the table and took a strawberry Kagura and Shinpachi bought for him from the store, all the while the sound of a hammer on nail continuing, "say if you tie your hair like a sailor moon you won't easily be recognized or when you wear an armour and your arms still stretch like rubber you won't easily be known."
"I think you're referring to some real show there, Gin-chan." Shinpachi looked over the window where the sound of hammering was still progressing, "and you've finally decided to use a cassette tape to play the sound of the hammer, huh?"
"Anyways, disguises only works for a time being," the Yorozuya leader raised his strawberry pack up the blue sky where it shielded his eyes from the sunlight, "it will still not mask who you really are."
"But Zura is the same no matter what outfit he wears." Kagura mentioned with a strawberry pack on her hands too, "and he would always introduce his real name even though he is a wanted man."
Gintoki grabbed the left pack of strawberry milk away from Kagura all the while saying— "That's because even he can't disguise his stupidity."
"Speaking of Katsura-san," Shinpachi looked thoughtful for awhile, "I heard news around the Jouishishi is becoming violent as of late... have you asked Katsura-san about that, Gin-san?"
The Yorozuya leader who was already sitting comfortably on his throne behind his desk looked up at the glasses boy quietly.
"That guy never tells me anything about his group's activity."
"Well, it's kind of serious lately," the megane boy looked at the silver haired leader with a little frown, "I heard a building was attacked yesterday with a number of casualties..."
"Well, is there any Shinsengumi and Shogun present there at that time? Zura doesn't bother with anything that isn't connected with them. That guy and his obsession with the Bakufu."
"N-no..." Shinpachi shook his head, "there aren't any of them there like that. I heard it was a bank, Gin-chan and that after attacking it they took a huge sum of money—"
"That isn't Zura's group then."
Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura both looked up at the Yorozuya leader who has already put both legs on top of the table and arms behind his head.
"Zura isn't the type to do something low like that," the silver haired samurai simply said with eyes closed, "if he's planning to blow something up he'll even blow that money you're talking about."
"Is that so?"
Kagura and Shinpachi looked immediately by the door and saw someone standing there. Gintoki opened his eyes and it immediately fell on a tall, black haired man wearing a long grey cloak and dark boots. His long face was hidden behind a large amount of black hair covering his face and with only a moustache visible on sight.
The moment Gintoki saw him he knew it was a bad sight. He didn't like the man's smell. The Yorozuya leader then straightened from his chair and eyed the visitor quietly.
"Yhwach," Gintoki said without prelude.
"Eh?" Shinpachi turned to his leader in surprise, "you know him, Gin-chan?"
"Not really. I just felt like saying it. Don't even know that language."
"And here I thought there was really an important work going on," the unknown man said as he surveyed the place with his sharp eyes, "and here I see a cassette tape. And three minor people."
"Oi, oi," Gintoki reached his pinky finger up his nose, "you just came in the door and you tell us we're the minor characters? We've been rambling here for an hour with all the screen time..."
"I do not know what you're talking about," the man said with a straight look at Gintoki, as he straightened to face them. "but I see... you are strong. Well then, I only came here to gather information about the Jouishishi leader Katsura Kotaro. You guys were just talking about him, weren't you? And here I was wondering why the Vice Captain of the Shinsenguimi told me not to waste my time on fools like you when in fact," his eyes sharpened, "you know that leader of terrorist quite well."
"Don't you know its manners to first introduce yourself, you second rate fool?" Gintoki stood up slowly from his chair as did Kagura and Shinpachi with their eyes lingering.
"That's right, second rate!" Kagura pointed at the man, making Shinpachi turn to his comrades.
"Why second rate?"
"Because we're first rates, Shinpachi!" the Yato girl answered proudly.
"Er... is that something to be proud about?"
The man by the door continued gazing at them.
"Well?" he went on, "where is Katsura Kotaro?"
"We have nothing to tell you about that idiot's group but we do have a stalker tied right up here if you want to take her." Gintoki suddenly said with a look of deep indifference on his face, "You'll have to catch that guy on your own and stop relying on innocent civilians. Tough job for you."
The black haired man's eyes glinted.
"Are you covering for Katsura Kotaro and hiding relevant information about him?"
"Are you covering your face with your hair to hide your old scary face?" Gintoki looked as apathetic as ever, making the unknown man take note of his appearance carefully.
"I see we won't be seeing each other in the eye then?" the unknown man said with a final look around the three Yorozuya members, "What a pity but I'll be getting what I want sooner. It's only a matter of time before the Jouishishi finally falls down. For the peace of this country."
"You heard what I said," the Yorozuya leader's voice came again, making the man eye him, "Zura won't do something as low as robbing a bank."
"You don't listen to news quite often, do you?" challenged the stranger.
"Don't underestimate me," the silver haired samurai answered, "I've always been updated with Ketsuno Anna on the program."
"Jouishishi's attacks aren't only about that bank from neither yesterday nor the bombing this morning. They've been doing all the major attacks in the country recently, killing innocent civilians and authorities."
"No way!" Shinpachi found his voice with fist closed, "Katsura-san won't do anything like that! He may be an idiot but he won't harm people pointlessly!"
"That's what you say. We believe differently. He's been sighted to most of these places."
The Yorozuya all stared up at the man in surprise. It was clear they couldn't believe their ears. That was when the man turned his back at them, making Shinpachi suddenly aware of silence. Even Gintoki noticed it and with a little crease on his eyebrows, he looked over to the cassette playing his hummer tune.
It wasn't playing anymore.
"When did he...?" Shinpachi gulped as he realized what had just happened.
"It's better for you to really fix your place than to play around with that thing," the black haired man said with a final gesture of his hand.
The Yorozuya all stared at the tall man with Gintoki's eyes still the same as ever.
"Hey," he quietly said, "who are you?"
The man in the grey cloak stopped on his tracks just a few feet from what remained of the door. His tall appearance was then made menacing with the sudden appearance of three more creatures behind him. Surprisingly—the ones behind him were not human like him—they were Amantos.
"These guys...!" the megane boy said with eyes flickering as he saw their shoulders in full arms and weapons with a badge of authority on them. The Tendoshu army in broad daylight. The silver haired samurai remembered Hijikata's words just then...
"You finally came around to ask?" the man with mustache said quietly to Gintoki, "and I thought you wild dogs don't have any manners left in you."
"Says the one who works around with the real dogs." The Yorozuya leader referred to the fanged soldiers, "then? Who are you guys?"
"It's as whom you see," the lone man in the group of Amantos said with a smile, "we are the new protectors of this land from terrorist with the sole goal of finally putting an end to the Jouishishi lead by Katsura Kotaro. It's time for the samurais to let go of their swords. You're not a Jouishishi, are you? I see your sword is not one of them?"
Gintoki's eyes sprang to life as he saw his wooden sword at the hands of the black haired man. Even Kagura and Shinpachi looked taken aback at the sudden feat for no one has ever touched Gintoki's wooden sword in a blink of an eye.
"H-How did he do that!?" the glasses boy muttered with a sweat drop at the side of his face, "Gin-san's sword... was easily taken...?"
"Gin-chan..." Kagura said sounding alert, "that guy..."
Gintoki looked down his belt and confirmed it really was not there. With eyes suddenly flickering, he looked up at the visitors.
"Oi... you guys better not mess up with my sword...that thing bites... I tell you."
The stranger looked up at him with his eyes narrowing—
"Here then." And he tossed Gintoki's wooden sword in the air—and with all eyes on it the guy standing by the door disappeared—only to appear in front of Gintoki with his own sword already drawn— he gave a slash in the air—
"GIN-CHAN!" Kagura shouted and Shinpachi's eyes widened as they saw the clash of the two with the air making such a riff. There was a loud crash as they ended up on the wall with the Yorozuya table breaking into two—the wall was destroyed too with the two men and their swords.
That was when Shinpachi saw what happened—"GIN-SAN!"
"Didn't your teacher... tell you some stupid lesson about not attacking while your opponent's sword is in the air?" Gintoki muttered through gritted teeth as he deflected the black haired man's attack with his wooden sword. How he managed to get it no one knows—but it made his enemy grin.
"Heh...not avoiding me?" said the strange man with eyes finally showing from his thick hair, pushing Gintoki harder on the broken wall, "You really are something else."
Gintoki felt the man strength pushed him even more and had to grit his teeth. He felt his feet dug deep on the floor—surely making the ceiling crumble from Otose's point of view.
"That baba's gonna get angry with me again," the Yorozuya leader muttered, "and none of this is even my fault!"
The stranger smirked and closed in the silver haired samurai whispering, "I will kill Kotarou Katsura and destroy the Jouishishi."
It was Gintoki's turn to grin.
"Kill? I thought you go first with capture? Revealing true colors at once, aren't you?"
The man's eyes narrowed again looking displeased.
"Don't get it the way."
Gintoki's eyes glinted.
"Are you some sort of magician who makes a popping sound to make things go his way? You've been babbling about impossible things since I met you. You don't need to tell me anything. I follow by my own rules."
The man surveyed Gintoki Sakata, and then pulled his sword and sheathed it again. Gintoki straightened up and followed the man with his eyes as both Kagura and Shinpachi did the same.
"Seimaru's the name," the man then whispered as he reached the door once again, "if I ever see you anywhere near the Jouishishi we will consider you their allies and would not hesitate to declare you as terrorist. Well. I don't mind cutting another samurai in the process."
Gintoki did not respond but did give the strange black haired man a look. They then watch him disappear from the doorway, leaving everything in shambles and mess.
"Gin-chan!" Kagura ran near the silver haired samurai who scratched his head.
"Man, these guys just keep coming and destroying others' properties." He said with a loud sigh. He then looked at his wooden sword and stared at it for awhile.
"Gin-san!" called Shinpachi from over the table where the unconscious and still tied ninja assassin was lying with eyes going in circles. The megane boy held her in his lap, "she's okay... had you not stayed on the spot and avoided that strange man's attack she would have been in trouble."
Sarutobi remained immovable on the spot as the Yorozuya leader gave another mighty sigh.
"Why do I get to be attacked by these strange creatures? And they're not even aliens."
Shinpachi then stared up at Gintoki looking serious.
"Gin-san, about Katsura-san... should we warn him about this?"
Gintoki glanced at the megane boy and then looked away with his mind surprisingly preoccupied.
"Even if you tell me that I don't think that idiot would listen to me anyways. Zura has always had his own mentality. No matter how deranged it may be."
"Yeah... but this time...that guy and those Amantos...they're working together to get Katsura-san. What are we gonna do?" Shinpachi and Gintoki eyed each other while Kagura watched them.
"Let's look for Zura!" the Yato girl then exclaimed.
"Not happening."
"Another one of the magicians popped up," muttered Gintoki as he looked behind him to find Okita Sogo standing by the doorway, "what do you want this time? Finally decided to blow the whole place up, Okita-kun?"
"Don't make me look like the bad guy, danna." Okita said with a look at the group, "I'm just saying... you can't make any movements with the Tendoshu watching over you."
"Watching...us?" Shinpachi's eyes widened, "does that mean...?"
And Gintoki's eyes narrowed upon hearing this.
Now things just got a little bit nasty... he thought... you're not even here and you're still bringing up trouble, ZURA!
~to be continued~
A/N: Katsura's wanted poster will fly everywhere!
And where is this Jouishishi member anyways? Gintoki and the gang runs around next time!
Thanks for reading!