Hello again. Thank you all for the encouraging reviews, I'm very flattered and motivated, lol. This is going to be one slow romance…

TO MITSUKI- by my last note, I meant that I'll develop the OkiKagu relationship in the next chapters. And that it'll be in other people's perspectives, not Kagura or Okita's (if this is what you were asking haha).

DISCLAIMER: Gintama aint mine.

CHAPTER 2

After traversing the Kabuki district, Mori Mori was tired. It was almost sundown they decided to watch it on the riverbank near the wooden bridge. They sat down on the ground, not too close to each other, but it didn't mean he didn't want to get close. So, in order to compensate for this desire, he strategically placed his hand next to hers, close enough not to touch.

"Hey, today was fun wasn't it, Mo-kun?" she smiled at him.

"It was! The most fun I've had in years." He replied.

"We should do this again. Sneak out of your house more often,"

Mori Mori blushed at her statement. He nodded in agreement and smiled at her. Saying he was happy was an understatement, he felt more than that. He was also feeling very confident of himself so he tried to move his hand and placed it on top of hers. Both of their eyes widened at each other, not because of the action, but because they felt the excruciating pain on their hands. Someone was stepping on it.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I was stepping on crap. You have to destroy crap before it sprouts into anything else." Sougo said.

Obviously, Kagura was enfuriated. She grabbed Sougo's leg with her free hand and threw him in the river. Mori Mori was surprised with her strength and action. The Yato was shouting arguments about how the officer's logic was the crap. Even as she shouted unladylike things, Mori Mori couldn't help but stare at her again. He was drowning out any sound and replaced them with a background music in his mind.

Sougo had gotten out of the river and approached them. Any attacks from Kagura was just brushed off. He was heading directly to Mori Mori.

"Hey, you, you opportunistic prince, I need to get you back or else our heads will roll." The prince was intimidated by Sougo's expression. It was obvious that the officer was annoyed. His eyebrows were already meeting and he felt like a vein was going to pop anytime soon.

"And you," he started. "Go back to the Yorozuya boss before I drag you with me. You should really add 'kidnapping Tokugawas' as another one of your offered services."

Yorozuya?

His expression must have shown his confusion because Kagura answered. "Oh, yeah I forgot. Mo-kun, if you need any help, call us, the Yorozuya! We do all sorts of jobs. Or if you want to hang out again, you know where to go." She smiled and handed him a wrinkled calling card.

Yorozuya Gin-chan.

Before leaving, Kagura spat a few more insults with the officer and went off. Mori Mori clutched the calling card near his heart, which made Sougo cringe at the prince's action. The officer held Mori Mori's collar, as if he was a dog, and started walking to the direction of the prince's house.

"Hey," Mori Mori started. "Are you friends with Kagura? You seem pretty close. You call her 'China'."

"No. 'Friends' would be overstating it." Sougo simply said.

Well, he thought, he wouldn't be able to get answers from this guy.

/

When Sougo and Mori Mori got to the prince's house, all types of noise were heard. From cursing to crying, everything was there. He handed Mori Mori to the guardian and immediately went to look for the Commander, Kondo. The prince ran from his guardian and immediately followed him.

"Ah, Sougo! I heard you brought the prince back. You didn't have to go through the trouble. You're not part of this assignment." A gorilla-like man said.

"I happened to be passing by when I saw the prince and the Yorozuya girl together."

"I know what you mean. I also can't stand it when Otae is with other men."

"That's not what I meant."

"Suuuure."

Mori Mori didn't understand what they meant by that. He waited for Sougo to leave so he could approach the Commander by himself. He sat next to Kondo and took out the calling card from his pocket.

"Oh, it's the prince. You won't be able to sneak out anymore, so you better stay put." Kondo said.

"I can get out if I want to. Even with all of you around. So if you don't want me to cause any more trouble, I need you to do something for me."

Kondo gave him a look of curiosity as Mori Mori handed him the calling card.

/

"So how about it, Yorozuya?" Kondo smiled.

He was standing in front of the desk where Gin sits, trying to present a request. It was already evening, Kagura had went to bed early, Shinpachi had gone home, and Gin was the only one awake. Kondo was accompanied by Hijikata and Sougo, as always, to pitch this request. Apparently the prince had requested, in exchange for his best behavior, that the Yorozuya are hired to act as body guards as well.

"I don't get it. You tax robbers are already there, why do you need to bother us?" Gin asked.

"You should be grateful, you know." Hijikata said. "With us there you won't have to do anything but be there, and you'll get paid."

Gin picked his nose and placed his legs on the desk. "Oh? But I really don't like complying with snotty, rich people's request."

"Please, Yorozuya-san!" Kondo begged. He leaned closer to Gin and whispered: "If you ask me, I think he's taken a liking to the China girl."

"All the more reason! I'll do anything for money but I'm not about to sell her to a boy who has a crush on her. I'm not that low. Her dad would kill me if he finds out."

Kondo begged once more, much to the annoyance of Hijikata. Seeing his superior degrade himself in front of these people was the last thing he wanted. He was about to grab Kondo when the sliding cabinet suddenly opened. A girl rubbing her eyes, clearly just woken up, came out.

"Gin we should take the job. We've got to feed Sadaharu, he'll run out of food soon." Kagura said.

"You should just feed your boss to that damn dog, China." Sougo said. "Besides, you know that he just wants to see you, right? Women shouldn't just comply with men like that."

"That's rich coming from a sadistic freak like you." Kagura went back to her cabinet to sleep.

"Fine," Sougo said. "Have it your way."

Sougo turned around and went outside. The three remaining adults just looked at him, not saying anything. When he was outside, Gin gave out a long sigh and looked at Kondo.

"Tsk. Kids today. Alright, we'll do it. Make sure he pays us." Gin said.

"We'll make sure he pays you before Sougo kills him." Hijikata said.

END

I feel like this isn't one of my best ideas yet. But I do hope you guys like it. Gaaaah, Kagura is such a lucky girl, men fighting over her. Haha. Reviews and suggestions are much appreciated. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. :