As the rays of the morning sun pulled Gintoki out of sleep, he wished his eyelids could function as blackout curtains. His brain replayed the incidents from yesterday. The fugitive was pursued endlessly by the police. He jumped onto the delivery truck, found what he thought was a dead body. Turned out to be a robot butler and-
The feel of a pair of lips pressed against his jolted him out of his thoughts. His eyes slowly opened and the visage of crystal blue eyes greeted him. Eyes that he wished to both swim in and punch in irritation.
"Oi, what kind of butler doesn't wake up before his master?"
Punch. Gintoki definitely wanted to punch his master's annoying face. He grumbled nonsensities, not willing to arise just yet. It must be barely six in the morning, judging by his body's internal clock. Only a demon would wake up this early to wreak havoc on the earth, so of course Hijikata was awake.
The silver-haired butler watched his lord walk to the closet to get dressed and ran his eyes along the sinewed shape of his back. His morning reminder that he was indeed a man pulsed and he groaned, feeling like he regressed back to a horny teenage boy. Not fair. Not fair at all. Why was the most infuriating person in the world such a hot piece of ass?
"Go get my sword from my office and meet me at the entrance."
"As you wish," Gintoki mumbled sleepily. He quickly grabbed his clothes of the floor and smoothed the wrinkles out of his butler uniform.
After getting lost for about ten minutes, he finally found the office and made his way to entryway of the manor. Hijikata stood there, smoking in the literal and metaphorical sense. The butler almost drooled at the sight of his lord, adorned in stark black with a white ascot wrapped around his neck. His stoic master was dressed from head to toe in crisp uniform and it provided a sharp contrast to the loose, elegant yukata he had worn yesterday.
Gintoki walked to the edge of the entryway, which was a few inches off the ground, and handed the sleek, black sword over to his master, completing his look. They stared at each other for a moment too long.
Just when the butler thought his master was going to turn around and leave, Hijikata reached out to grab Gintoki's tie to pull him down into a surprise kiss. The silver-haired butler could only sputter in embarrassment and confusion when Hijikata let him go.
"You looked like you wanted a goodbye kiss," his master said with a maddening smirk and left Gintoki paralyzed at the entrance, blushing like a tomato.
Completely lost in his own world, the samurai hadn't sensed the arrival of a new player to the scene. A red-haired girl in a monochrome maid outfit poked Gin on the cheek, asking "hey, are you overheating? Your face is completely red. Want me to douse you with water to cool you down?"
Her insistent poking finally brought Gintoki back down from the clouds. "Who the hell are you?!"
The girl placed her hands on her hips and pouted, "hey! That's rude! I'm Kagura! Since I've been here longer, I'm technically your senpai!"
The silver-haired samurai was about to shoot back a childish retort when a headache blinded him and it suddenly felt too moist. Smelled terrible too.
"Sadaharu! Bad dog! The new butler isn't a chew toy! Let him go!" Kagura commanded.
Gintoki got his vision back and turned around to see a white dog almost larger than him. What the fuck?! Was this the manor's guard dog?! What fresh hell did this monster crawl out of?
Kagura stepped closer to inspect Gintoki and pointed to the head injury that he just received from her monsterous pet. "Huh? Are you bleeding? Aren't you supposed to be a robot?" Kagura questioned, growing slightly suspicious.
"Noooooooo," Gintoki dragged out, "this is oil. It's just colored like blood to make me more human." The maid thankfully just accepted the bold-faced lie.
"So did you sleep with master?" Kagura asked without missing a beat.
Gintoki almost choked on air.
"O-oi! A young girl shouldn't say things like that!"
Kagura just shrugged, not really caring about what was or wasn't inappropriate for a girl her age. She was a Yato after all. The same earth rules didn't apply to her.
"So did you top? Master looks like a bottom."
Gintoki did choke this time.
"I mean with hair like that, he's not exactly a top."
Was Gintoki going crazy or did that actually make sense?!
The sound of footsteps grew louder, announcing the entrance of Shinpachi. The bespectacled boy's appearance saved Gintoki from what had to be the worst encounter of his life. "Good morning, Gin-san! Seems like you've met Kagura-chan and Sadaharu!"
Desperately wanting to change the subject, the silver-haired butler said, "Morning, Shinpachi. Master left without giving me any orders for the day. Where did he go anyway?"
"Hmm, probably out to receive his new assignment."
Gintoki's eyes darkened, understanding the implication. "This is what the taxpayer money goes towards?"
Shinpachi and Kagura gave each other a quick look before returning their gaze unto this rather odd robot butler.
"Wooow, Sougo-sama really was the one who programmed you," Kagura remarked.
"Gin-san, I know that Hijikata-sama is involved in many unsavory dealings on behalf of the shogunate, but he himself is a good man," Shinpachi said, trying to defend his master.
The cook continued, "my sister and I are greatly indebted to the lord. He had saved our home from the illegal dealings of real estate agent working with the yakuza. After saving our dojo, he even offered me this job during a time when samurai and their descendants are left in the streets to rot under the feet of Amanto."
Kagura nodded before adding her own story, "I'm an illegal Yato alien. After I landed on Earth, I got involved with yakuza who only wanted to abuse my strength. When Hijikata-sama went to investigate, instead of arresting and deporting me, he gave me this job to legally stay here on Earth. Now I get three meals a day!"
That last part didn't seem like much of a brag but the rest of what these brats were saying sounded sincere enough.
"Master may seem really prickly on the outside but he's actually a softy. He's a yandere!" Kagura said with utmost confidence.
Shinpachi sweatdropped. "I think you mean tsundere, Kagura-chan." He turned back to Gintoki, "per your earlier question, we have the day off, but we will probably accompany Master out tonight."
Gintoki hummed in acknowledgement. He would give time to think about what these kids said about the mysterious lord of the manor and judge him for himself.
The day passed by in the blink of an eye. As the sun dipped beneath the horizon, the rumble of Hijikata's car sounded from the driveway. Gintoki greeted his master at the door and followed him back to his office.
"Yorozuya, sit down." Gintoki quickly wiped the look of confusion when he remembered that was his particular 'model'. Wait, was this bastard refusing to say his name?
The silver-haired butler watched in curiosity as his master riffled through his desk drawer to pull out a small cylindrical container the size of his palm. He stepped in front of Gintoki and open the jar to dip two fingers in the viscous substance. Whoa… was that lub-nope, it was hair gel as evident by the fact that Hijikata was now combing Gintoki's silver hair with his fingers. Gintoki found himself lost in the sensation of his master running his long fingers through his hair, shuddering as his nails lightly scratched his scalp. It was too foreign of a feeling for someone other than a hairdresser to do something like this.
"Where we're going, I can't have such a sloppy-looking butler at my side." Hijikata stepped back to admire his work and nodded in approval. "Go change into your white uniform and grab your weapon. They should be in your room since Kagura moved your packaging box into it."
Gintoki felt irked that he was being ordered around like a manservant, but unfortunately this was his current fate. He returned to his room and rummaged through the box and found a white butler uniform, an exact opposite of his current one. He dug a bit more through the sides and found his trusty bokken, apologizing to it for abandoning it in the box.
When he dressed himself and took a gander of his new look in the mirror, he couldn't help but wolf-whistle at his slick reflection. Gin-san cleaned up quite nicely. It had been ages since his bangs weren't hanging over his eyes and he loathed to thank Hijikata for the improvement in his looks. But even Gintoki had to admit that he looked fine as hell with his white hair and stark white butler uniform. The outfit accentuated Gintoki's physique in all the right places, from his broad shoulders to his tighter waist.
The all-white butler fidgeted with his tie as he strolled down the main corridor to meet Hijikata at the end. Hijikata stood paralyzed at the sight of the blinding white figure of his butler. The cigarette resting in between Hijikata's lips almost fell to the floor, his mouth agape in shock. Gintoki stepped towards the edge, holding his master's attention captive as he did so.
Gin grew brazen at the effect that he had on this indignant chain smoker. He stole the cigarette right from Hijikata's lips and took a long drag. In one breath, he blew out the smoke into his master's face. In another, he closed the maddening distance between their lips.
"You looked like you wanted a good luck kiss," the butler said, mirroring his lord's haughty taunt from this morning.
Hijikata snapped out of his trance and was one second away from upper-cutting his servant for his impudence when Kagura and Shinpachi arrived to the scene.
Gin almost didn't recognize the two kids in non-monochrome colors. Shinpachi was dressed in blue like he was headed to kendo practice and Kagura looked like she just came back from a vacation to China during Lunar New Years.
"Why are you guys dressed like that?"
"We're in our civilian clothes since we need to blend in."
Gintoki grew confused, gesturing down at his blinding white uniform. "Then how come I'm dressed like this?"
"Because I need you by my side," answered Hijikata simply as he turned around and left through the front doors.
If Gintoki were a weaker man, he would have blushed. How the hell can the bastard say such… embarrassing things without blinking an eye?! Did he have no shame?!
Shinpachi chuckled a bit at the scene. "Most Edo elites already know who Hijikata-sama is, so you would catch everyone's eye regardless of what you wear if you're going with Master."
The four of them stepped into a sleek black limo with four seats facing each other. The driver was unseen in the front, separated by a soundproof and opaque tinted glass. Kagura and Shinpachi sat next to each other while Gintoki took his rightful place next to their master.
Hijikata spoke as he handed out folders with details of their mission. "We're going to do some recon tonight. Our target is the strongest fighter of the underground fighting ring 'Rengokukan'. His name is Kidomaru and he's been the champion for a year now. Currently the illegal fight club has been untouchable because of the Amanto owner's close ties to the shogunate. The police haven't been able to do a single thing."
The silver Joui War veteran inwardly scoffed. Of course the shogunate was merely a puppet for the Amanto. Gintoki stopped trying to imagine a world without the Amanto a long time ago. He wasn't like Zura, fighting for a world that could no longer exist. The Amanto had buried their roots deep within Japan's soil and you couldn't rip out these aliens without tearing apart the entire foundation.
"Are we planning to kill him?" Gintoki said bluntly.
"Depends."
"On what."
"What I decide." Hijikata stated, matter-of-factly. The butler rolled his eyes. Figures.
After a half hour drive, the car pulled over to the side of road. Although it was dark, Gintoki could distinguish a house in between the trees. They stepped quietly, careful to not alert any one of their trespassing.
"Yorozuya," Hijikata whispered, "go up to the house and see if anyone's home."
Ugh, why was he the one sent to killer's home?! Oh yea, robots were considered expendable. Gintoki could do nothing but follow his master's order and attempted to sneak to the side of the house. It was a Japanese-styled home with wooden floors and beaten down shoji doors. As he was about to slide the door, he felt a sharp jab in his butt of all places.
"What the fuck?!" The silver-haired samurai shot up howling in surprise, clutching his hurt butt cheek as he did so.
A deep voice called out behind him. "Who are you and what are you doing trespassing into my home?"
Gintoki put his hands up in a disarming gesture. The man was monstrous in size, almost double the height of Gin. There was no doubt this was Kidomaru. Frantically searching for an answer, he spat out, "Hello! Would you like to switch your telephone service to a long-distance line?"
Kidomaru glared at the intruder with suspicion in his eyes, "does this look like a house with a telephone line? We're in the middle of nowhere with no electricity."
"Well, I'm sorry for intruding you on this lovely night. I won't impose any further." Just when Gintoki was about to make a dash for his life, the shoji doors slid open behind him.
A small boy not even reaching the butler's knees called out, 'papa!"
The underground champion did something that Gintoki wouldn't have expected in a hundred years. He smiled. What Gin thought to be a bloodthirsty killer knelt down and scooped the boy up into his arms. "Yes, I am here."
Soon after, a bunch of other children clambered out of the house to climb atop their father like a tree. With his strength, Kidomaru simply let them, not bothered in the slightest. It was like having kittens claw their way up.
As Gintoki was about to open his mouth to worm his way out of this odd situation, a yelp from the bushes stole everyone's attention. In the blink of an eye, the familiar white fur of Sadaharu was lit under the moonlight.
"Goddamnit Kagura! I told you to leave the dog at home!" His master's yells came through between the trees. Looks like their cover was completely blown now.
Kagura jumped out of the bushes to hug her beloved dog around the neck. "He must have followed us without me knowing! Oh Sadaharu, you must love me so much!" Even with Hijikata's anger directed towards her, she couldn't help gushing over her pet.
All the kids aboard Kidomaru jumped off and ran squealing towards the large fluffy dog.
Kidomaru narrowed his eyes at the approaching figures of Hijikata and Shinpachi. "Are these your telemarketer friends?"
Gintoki gulped, but thankfully, Hijikata walked up and said, "let's cut the crap. We know you're Kidomaru, the top fighter of Rengokukan."
Said fighter crossed his arms and replied, "well, after tonight, I will no longer hold that title, so you can take your business elsewhere."
Hijikata eyes grew wide in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"I won't lie. I am a bad man. My hands are stained with my opponents' blood from the many death matches I have fought in that underground arena. But I have finally saved enough from my earnings to start a new life with my kids."
Gin looked at the dozen or so brats playing with Kagura and Sadaharu. "You really got around during your younger days, didn't you? You know there are cond-" Hijikata smacked him upside the head before he could finish his crude statement.
Kidomaru shook his head. "No, these are not my children. Not by blood, at least. They were orphaned during the war and I simply could not leave them to rot in this world that failed them. I knew I couldn't provide for them as a jobless rounin. All I had was my strength. So I used it the only way I knew how."
Hijikata, Gintoki, and Shinpachi looked at the man before them, understanding dawning upon their features. Yes, this was a killer, but by no means was he an honorless man. The samurai soul within all three burned in admiration and respect at Kidomaru.
The black-haired man smirked, "well, it's a good thing you're quitting the Rengokukan tonight."
"How come?" Kidomaru asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
"Haven't you heard? I'm going to tear that place to shreds."
"So you want my help to infiltrate the Rengokukan? What could I get in return?"
"A safe passage out of Edo for you and your children. And some extra money to help you start your new lives."
Kidomaru mulled over the offer before nodding his acquiescence. "You have a deal."
Hijikata continued, "Shinpachi and Kagura will stay behind and protect your brats until you come back for them tonight."
The fight club champion shook hands with his fellow samurai. The three departed in a horse-drawn caravan after Kidomaru said goodbye to his children. "Don't worry. Papa just has to go on a short business trip. I will come back to you before the sun is up. So you all better be in bed before I come back." His beloved children grumbled, not wanting to stop playing with Sadaharu, but listened to their father nonetheless.
Gintoki and Hijikata climbed into the back of the caravan, loaded with a variety of weapons, such as swords and clubs. The fact that these already had been used was evident with the dried blood on them. A single red oni mask lied at the center. The butler picked it up, running his fingers along the grooves of the battle-worn mask.
The trio rode on the dirt path in silence, hidden between the shadow of trees. Right when they were at the outskirts of Edo, moments away from their destination, the caravan lurched, sending the two inside tumbling around like pinballs. The horse neighed in terror as an arrow stopped it in its tracks.
Kidomaru yelled as he fell off the horse, cursing in pain as his body slammed into the ground. Before he could arise, a demon-masked figure stood atop of him with a spear pointed at his heart. "Your days as the Champion of Rengokukan are coming to an end, Kidomaru. My boss has decided that we will no longer need your services. It has grown a bit too stale in the betting ring with you always coming out on top."
"You cowards can't even kill me in the ring!"
Although the figure was hiding behind a blue oni mask, the smirk was unhidden in his voice. "We don't have to." Those were the last words Kidomaru heard before his heart was pierced by the spear of his ruthless assassin.
Gintoki's blood had been boiling, ready to launch himself through the caravan to help Kidomaru, but he was incapacitated by Hijikata's bruising grip around his body. His arms and legs were locked down by Hijikata behind him as one hand muffled his curses. When the assassin left the scene, Gintoki elbowed his master in the ribs so he could finally escape.
The black-haired man followed clumsily as he clutched his ribs in pain. Hijikata didn't even see Gintoki's punch coming. He landed gracelessly on the dirt path with a bloody nose.
"What did you stop me?! We could have saved him!" Gintoki viciously grabbed Hijikata by the collar and yelled into his face.
Hijikata only gave him a cold glare before replying, "I couldn't let you jeopardize the operation."
The butler's eyes flared in anger before punching his master again. "FUCK your operation! You let that man die before your eyes and you did NOTHING to stop it!"
"What if that assassin noticed us and called for backup? What if his reinforcement discovered the trail leading back to the house with Kidomaru's brats? What would you do if those killers turned their swords to those kids?"
Gintoki dropped Hijikata unceremoniously onto the ground, the implication of his words hitting him like a freight train. But a wave of anger crashed into him again. "Well, we couldn't have known what would have happened!"
Hijikata picked himself off the ground, wiping the blood dripping from his face. "Well now we won't."
Hijikata ignored his butler seething in cold anger and stepped towards the lifeless body of Kidomaru. When he knelt down to close his eyes, Kidomaru reached out to cling desperately to the black-haired samurai's hand.
"Please… avenge me." Kidomaru barely pushed out as his blood flooded his lungs. "And make sure those kids are taken care of. They deserve a better father than me."
A ghost of a smile crossed Hijikata's face, "those kids will never have a greater father than you." Hijikata placed his hand atop Kidomaru's face, closing his eyes and allowing the soul of his fellow samurai to pass on in dignity.
"Did you hear that, Yorozuya? We have one final job for tonight."
Gintoki said nothing as he watched Hijikata climb aboard the horse, untying it from the caravan. He reached out his hand to his butler. "Are you coming?"
The silver-haired samurai wordlessly took his master's warm hand and climbed behind Hijikata. Although it was the last thing he wanted to do, he wrapped his arms around his master's waist and held on tight as they both rode into the night.
