Chapter 2

Katsura looked at the silver hilt engraved dagger proffered by Gin. It did look familiar but he wanted to get a better look before jumping to any conclusions. The part time tranny reached out and took the blade from his friend's outstretched arm. He slowly turned it in his hands and studied the silver inlay very closely. Even to an untrained eye the design was well executed and it was obvious that it was worth quite a bit of money. The most prominent image was a stag, its horns branching onto the daggers hilt. He did indeed know who the owner of this dagger was.

"Gintoki, you know that I know very well who would own such a dagger," he answered as he returned the blade to the silver haired man. "You must have sought me out for more reason than this"

Gin took the dagger and tucked it behind his back into his belt. "Zura, this was found at the site of a murder and two more at two other identical murders. You're right. I came to you to help me find him."

"I do not believe that he would murder someone, Gintoki," Katsura gravely asserted.

"I'm not as optimistic as you. However, even if he's being set up, I need to talk to him." Gin sighed with resignation. "These murders seem to be troubling a certain prostitute ninja friend of mine."

"You have the weirdest friends," the man said with a flick of his long black hair.

"You have no idea Zura," he retorted with a sardonic grin.

"It is not Zura! It is Katsura! When will you learn my name?" Katsura crossed his arms over his chest. Dressed up as he was, instead of looking angry he looked more like he was pouting. Gin found that disturbing but decided to keep that to himself. "Very well, I will tell you where he is because I trust you, but he is one of the Joi's biggest financiers."

"Somehow I knew you kept in touch with him."

Katsura turned away from his long time friend, picked up a piece of scrap paper and scribbled on it. He didn't seem to have a pen handy, so he wrote the address in purple lipstick. He turned back to Gin and handed him the paper. Gin glanced down and had to bite his tongue to stop from making a comment about the lipstick. What concerned him more was that this address was clear across Edo and he cringed at the money that he would have to spend on gas for his moped. It was currently running on fumes and he had lost his last yen in pachiko yesterday.

"Oi, thanks, I owe you one," the silver haired samurai told his long time comrade as he turned and walked out the door, dismissively waving his hand. "Don't let any dirty old men feel you up Zurako-chan.

First Gin had to retrieve his scooter which was back at Yorozuya Gin-chan. He had left it there to save on gas but there was no way he was going to walk clear across Edo. By now the midday sun was overhead and the heat felt oppressive. Today would have been a great day to spend at home, sitting in his comfortable chair, with his feet up on his desk. All he wanted to do was to relax with the rotating fan streaming cool air on him while he read Shounen Jump. Why does this stuff keep happening to him?

It was by chance that Gin noticed a familiar site. It was a tall blond man with his hair slicked back dressed in a white jacket trimmed in gold that was left open in the front. Underneath the jacket he wore a white vest and pants also trimmed in gold. His dead fish eyes looked down on everything that crossed them and on the man's right eye sat a monocle. In his left hand he held a cell phone up to his ear as he walked, leaving his right arm free to be ready to pull the katana worn at his hip, or the gun he had hidden under his jacket, at a moment's notice. So far, Gin hoped, Sasaki Isaburo, the leader of the self proclaimed elite Mimawarigumi, had not noticed him.

The silver haired samurai quickly ducked into a nearby alley. Now was not the time to get mixed up in that crazy man's business. With a sigh of relief Gin watched Sasaki enter a popular bakery. It looked like the annoying cell phone freak didn't notice him and he was in the clear. Just as he was about to resume his journey back to Yorozuya Gin-chan, he heard a catchy tune coming from somewhere on his person. After patting himself down, he found a hidden cell phone.

How did that get there? He thought. With a sigh of resignation Gin flipped open the accursed device. Sure enough there was a text message from the Mimawarigumi captain.

The first thing Gin saw was a crying emoticon that looked like something a school girl would come up with. He didn't even know that phones could make symbols like those. The message that followed read, u r so mean Gin-tan, hiding from me like that. Not two seconds went by when another message came in, I'm buying doughnuts for Nobutasu, and sure enough there was another weird emoticon of someone handing out doughnuts. Or was that coffee? Followed by text saying, U want some? Before He was able to clear out the second message a third came in. It showed a person putting on a monocle. The only real text said, txt me! And that was followed by yet another emoticon of a joyous person holding their arms up in celebration.

It never ceased to amaze me how many emoticons that man used, Gin thought. What was he; a fifteen year old girl chatting with her friends about who's the cutest boy in school?

After throwing the cell phone on the ground and stomping it into an unrecognizable pile of circuits, Gin continued down the alley to avoid any further contact with Sasaki Isaburo. Moving through the back alleys of Kabuki District, however, proved to take a lot more time than Gin had hoped. Not to mention that there were a myriad of offensive smells that had him side stepping and dancing his way through the path to avoid their sources. Finally he made his way out of the alley just down the street from Yorozuya Gin-chan. After wiping a rank, indescribable substance from his boots he crossed the last leg back.

A familiar voice called from behind him, "Welcome back Gintoki."

Startled for a moment, Gin's hand was less than half way to his bokken before he was able to name the voice behind him. Trying to pass the movement off as nothing more than an awkward wave he turned to greet the woman standing behind him. Tsukuyo stood there with a knowing smirk and twinkle of the eye. The mirth she felt for startling the man before her was evident on her face. Seeing her stand there with such an open child like expression warmed his heart just a little. It wasn't long ago that such an expression would have been impossible for her.

"Oi, Tsuki-chan," he said sardonically. "I already have one ninja stalker. I don't need another."

Tsukuyo shot the samurai before her a dirty look, though, at the same time her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I have far more important things to do than follow you around. Oh…and by the way don't call me something so cute."

"And yet here you are for the second time today." he continued with a sadistic grin, "Huh? Maybe you have a crush on me?"

"You know why I am here," the blond ninja said. Trying to calm down, she pulled her kiseru out from her kimono and took her time in lighting it. Bringing the iron tipped wooden pipe to her lips, she took a long drag. "What have you found out?"

Gin let out a loud sigh. "What a slave driver. I was just about to follow a lead. I just came back to get my moped."

The man with the dead fish eyes walked over to where he had his dependable moped parked. However no matter how dependable a vehicle is it will not run without any gas. After getting on he turned the key in the ignition and the engine came to life. But, before Gin could so much as blink, the motor sputtered and then died. He tried to turn the key again, but the engine would not turn over. It was official. He was out of gas.

"Having trouble there?" Tsukuyo asked him as she took another puff from her kiseru.

"Tsukuyo-sama, can you lend me a couple thousand yen for some fuel?"

"No. However I am willing to pay you two thousand yen to give me a ride to where ever it is that you are going," she answered as she pulled two one thousand yen bills from her kimono. She waved them enticingly at him.

Gin got up off the moped and walked up to his would be passenger. He held out his helmet to her, "Oi, as they say, 'safety first'. So put this on."

Giving Gin a steady look, Tsukuyo dumped her kiseru against the hand railing and tucked it away. Before taking the helmet, the female ninja removed the miniature kunai decorating her flaxen hair, and took down the bun tied on top of her head. She put her accessories up her left kimono sleeve and ran her fingers through her locks, shaking them loose. After taking the helmet from her ride she fastened it to her head.

"Let's go get this heap of junk fueled up," she said.

"Yes ma'am."

Walking side by side the two of them pushed the moped along the dirt street. A gust of wind caused dust to swirl in the air. Gin sneezed as the current of air blew past them. The weather recently had been really dry causing the packed earth to become loose. However it was better than walking during the monsoon. During the rainy season the dust didn't cause problems with allergies, however, the muddy streets made it much more difficult to travel.

Before long they reached Gengai's Machine Hall. The sounds of grinding gears and the striking of a hammer on metal rang through the streets. Many of the pedestrians had to cover their ears as they passed by. Out front Hiraga Gengai was toiling away. He was an old, mostly bald man who was missing not just a few front teeth. His graying hair was gathered in a topknot and also covering his face was a scraggly beard. Covering his eyes for protection was a pair of his trademark goggles. He wore a plain green work outfit with a black belt and pouch.

Gengai noticed the pair walk up from the corner of his eye and looked up. A big grin spread across his face, easily showing his many missing teeth. "Gin-no-ji! It's great to see you." He looked over appreciatively at the girl standing next to him and asked, "Who's the pretty lass you brought with you?"

"Whoa Gengai-jii! I would watch yourself if I were you. She's dangerous." Gin warned him.

"Hmm. The good ones always are," he said with a wry smile. "I see you come for some fuel. I hope you brought money with you this time."

Gin pulled out the two one thousand yen bills Tsukuyo gave him earlier and handed it to Gengai. "This should cover what I owe you and hopefully fill me up."

"Ooo Gin-no-gi, with this all is forgiven," the old man replied with a laugh.

After filling up his moped Gin swung his leg over and sat down, his weight sinking the ride slightly. He turned the key in the ignition and the scooter purred like a kitten, a kitten that needed an oil change soon. Looking back, he patted the seat behind him and gave the woman an inviting look. Hesitantly, she climbed onto the back of the vehicle. Not sure where to put her hands she hung them down to her sides.

"Oi, you may want to hold on," The man arrogantly told her.

"Hold on to what?" she asked him. "I've never ridden one of these before."

"Wrap your arms around me. I don't need you falling off and killing my insurance rates with your medical bills."

Tsukuyo tentatively wrapped her arms around the man in front of her. As she did she felt her heart start to beat harder than she could ever remember. Her face was feeling flush and the rest of her body felt like she was on fire with embarrassment. She was confused by these feelings that were flooding her. She only hoped that Gin wouldn't somehow notice. Surely he could hear her heart beating from this distance.

"Okay," Gin announced. "Let's go."