Disclaimer: I do not own Gintama
As always, comments and criticism is welcome, but flames will be treated appropriately by being doused out
The storage was a decent sized room in a temple. Most of the residents of the temple had abandoned the grounds as soon was the war began. The only remaining one is an old monk who offers the soldiers his temple. There is a look on his face and a glimmer in his eyes that Gintoki cannot place. (It isn't until after the war that they notice that the shrine belongs to Hachiman, the Yawata no Kami)
Gintoki sighed as he motioned the person next to him to make another note. Judging by the grim expression on his face, Gintoki knew that the same thought was going through their minds.
They were running low on supplies.
It would only be a matter of time their meagre supply runs dry. As it was, there was hardly enough food to feed all the soldiers. There were several times when it was necessary to rotate which soldiers ate and which one would go hungry.
Every day a larger amount of people joined the war. Many of those who joined were peasants who have never had any experience in combat. After hearing stories of the rebels winning more and more battles, many of the civilians mustered their courage and rose up to help defend their homeland. While some were able to offer up some of their land for supplies or as outposts, many were unable to offer anything except their bodies. The government had taken away their land and burned their crops once word reached their ears that the people were rising up.
At the rate their supplies were running out, the Amanto would win the war by default.
Gintoki sat at the small campfire. The orange light of the flames dances across his face, creating an eerie glow as shadows seemed to grow and shrink. He held his sword (it was truly his, now that the previous owner of the sword was dead).
He glanced at each of his comrades' faces before letting out a weary sigh, "We need to get supplies. At the rate we're going through them we won't have enough to last another month."
There were mumbled words of agreement.
Many of the men did not want to admit that they might lose the war because they ran out of supplies (A war of attrition…kill their fighting spirit and what do they have?)
They had already lost many of their men to death and weakness. Many of their men had grown weak due to the lack of food while others passed away due to their injuries becoming infected.
They desperately needed food and medicine…
They needed it fast.
Tightening his grip on his sword Gintoki brought out a map and placed it on the ground. At his actions, the men stopped their mumbling and gave their attention to the white clad soldier. Gintoki hardly ever planned battles, but when he did it usually resulted in a Pyrrhic victory (Desperation and willing lives…).
Usually his battles would obtain them land and supplies but it would also result in losing many of their men. Due to the risk in losing men, whenever he planned battles he would ask for volunteers; many who volunteered were men who had already lost their will to live or were already on the verge of death (The Ghost Squad they called it…Men who had nothing more to live for…men who had already gazed into the abyss…let their lives mean something at the very least. And all the while, the demon sheds tears as he sends these men to die.)
He rarely planned battles unless they were desperate for a win.
Gintoki motioned for one of the men to give him something to write with. A piece of charcoal was pressed into his hands.
"This is our location," Gintoki marked a spot between two mountains.
"And this…," Gintoki drew a circle where a large bay could be seen, "is where my Intel has told me a large cargo ship carrying supplies for the Amanto is being brought within the next week."
There was excited mumbling.
Katsura leaned over the map and eagerly pointed out, "If we can get our hands on this ship it could turn the war in our favor!"
Takasugi nodded in agreement.
However, Sakamoto looked weary and asked the most important question, "What will the cost be to our numbers?"
At his question the excited murmurs died down. In their excitement they had forgotten that Gintoki's plans usually required a large sacrifice.
Gintoki closed his eyes and sighed, "I don't know…from what information I could gather, the ship is supposed to contain a large number of weapons and supplies provided by the Bakufu. There will be both Bakufu members and Amanto guarding the ship."
"It's too big of a risk!"
"We can't risk our men on a suicide mission like this!"
"This is ridiculous!"
The Shiroyasha stood and glared at the men in front of him, "Does anyone have any other ideas to get the most amount of supplies in such a short time?!"
The flames seemed to dance in response to his anger.
The men looked away in shame (Cowards in the face of death...)
Katsura placed a hand on his shoulders and murmured softly, "Gintoki…it's too big of a risk. I can't allow my faction to take such a big risk. We must be brave, not foolish"
Takasugi and Sakamoto reluctantly nodded.
The other men gave mumbled words of agreement.
Gintoki scoffed, "You still can't even look me in the eyes. Don't talk to me about bravery"
And it was true.
While their relationship had gotten better, Takasugi and Katsura would still have trouble looking Gintoki in the eyes. Most times, they focused on the space behind him or didn't bother to face him at all. Sakamoto on the other hand couldn't face Gintoki because he knew that he couldn't help Gintoki in such a huge risk. Not because he didn't believe they could win, but because he feared the risk.
"Do you truly believe that this cargo ship can help us?"
Eyes turned to the speaker.
It was the commander (an old man with a tired soul…too used to death and sacrifice)
Gintoki nodded and spoke up, "This cargo ship will have the supplies that we desperately need. We won't last another month. We may be equal in terms of numbers at this moment, but the Amanto have an advantage over supplies."
The commander looked thoughtful before shaking his head sadly, "While I agree that this could help us tremendously, I also believe that the risk to our numbers would be too great. I can't sacrifice our men for this. If numbers are all we have right now, we can't afford to lose that."
There was a heavy silence as the men turned their faces down (Victory was so close, yet so far…how much longer must they listen to the beat of the drums of war?).
"Protect everyone for me…"
Ginktoki glanced at the moon and whispered, "Then would you be willing to sacrifice one?" (Little demon…all too willing to die…too eager…)
Heads snapped back up to glance with wide eyes at Gintoki who stared intently at the flames and spoke once again, "You said you couldn't sacrifice your troops, but could you sacrifice one? If I were allowed to go retrieve the cargo ship by myself...would you be willing to sanction this as a mission?"
The commander looked thoughtful (He closed his heart to the thought of sending another child to die).
After what seemed like several hours but was in fact only a few seconds, he nodded his approval.
"If you fail, there won't be any retrieval team to come and save you"
Gintoki nodded grimly, his red eyes seemed to glow as his white robes rustled in the sudden wind.
Katsura and Takasugi avoided his gaze when his crimson eyes landed on them. They were ashamed to say that they were glad he offered to go by himself to get the cargo ship. They needed the supplies, but neither was willing to risk their lives to get it (or maybe they were too scared? Would he turn his sword on them just as he did with sensei?).
Sakamoto had a knowing look on his face, but he knew he couldn't do anything about Gintoki's decision. He could only hope that Gintoki made it back (don't die…don't die…please don't die…)
Gintoki stood with a bag on his shoulders and his sword in his hand.
The commander came up to him and handed him a folded-up cloth.
"Hang this from the ship if you are successful."
It took him two days of running to get to the location.
Clouds covered the moon and made it hard to see. He could only make out a vague outline. As if reading his thoughts, the clouds parted, and the silver light of the full moon illuminated the ship. He felt his eyes widen with the size and appearance of the ship.
The information had been wrong. It wasn't just a cargo ship…
It was also a warship (he couldn't afford to fail…if that ship were to be used against them…)
Currently it was docked, but he knew that the river the bay was connected to would be large enough to allow the ship to cross (there was also the fact that the currents would carry the ship directly to them). There were more than a hundred Amanto around the ship and he knew that there were probably at least a hundred more in it. He didn't even bother to count the Bakufu members that were also present.
If the ship made it to camp…
One…
Two…
Three…
Gintoki closed his eyes and calmed his wildly beating heart.
Four…
Five…
Six…
He unsheathed his sword and grasped it tightly in his hands.
Seven…
Eight…
Nine…
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
Ten!
His white robes fluttered behind him as the moon illuminated his ghostly features.
A shower of red erupted.
He was painted in crimson. Blood dripped from his clothing and poured from his wounds. As he took a step forward he slipped from the blood that flooded the ground and landed on his knees. He grimaced as the sudden motion aggravated his injuries. His body refused to move even as the Amanto gathered around him with their weapons raised.
A slight smile formed on his bloodied lips, "Finally…" (The demon closes his eyes and waits to embrace death)
He felt cold steel pierce his chest.
He coughed wetly.
His body felt disoriented.
He felt the warm blood leaving his body at the same time a cold feeling crept up his limbs.
His vision was a hazy crimson.
He felt himself fall.
The Amanto began to walk away laughing.
He felt his heart slow down and with it a sense of peace seemed to come over him. As if he finally found what he was searching for…
Is this it…? Is it finally over? I tried right? Sensei…isn't this enough? I tried to protect everyone…but in the end I ended up hurting them. Isn't it better this way?
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
But I tried!
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
I tried, and I failed!
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
Isn't it enough?!
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
Why are you haunting me like this sensei?
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
Do you hate that I killed you?
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
Do you hate that I couldn't save you?
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
Do you hate…me?
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
"Is…is this my punishment? Is this God's way of saying that I don't deserve to be forgiven…? That I don't deserve to rest?"
A dark chuckle escaped him as he wetly coughed out more of his blood.
"Gintoki protect everyone for me"
"Alright, alright…"
Unable to ignore the words repeating itself, he forced himself up. He ignored how his body screamed in protest and ignored the tightness in chest.
The Amanto laughed amongst themselves from their position on the ship.
They had lost nearly all their members including the members of the Bakufu that accompanied them, but they got to boast that they killed the mighty Shiroyasha.
A cold and dark voiced pierced through the laughter, "Who killed who?"
At the sound of the dark voice the Amanto whipped their head around to find Gintoki dyed in red and holding onto the dead body of the commander of the ship.
There were shouts of disbelief, "We stabbed you in the chest! You died!"
Chuckling darkly, a self-deprecating smile formed on his lips, "I guess God doesn't want to deal with a demon like me messing up his perfect paradise. I'll have to settle for Yoshiwara after this."
The dance of death began again…
The last body fell just as the morning sun began to rise from the east.
Forcing his body forward, Gintoki cut the anchors tying the ship to the harbor (the demon, too lost in the haze of pain, didn't notice Sumiyoshi Sanjin directly the ship to its location). He cut the flag containing the symbol of the Bakufu and hung the piece of cloth the commander had given him.
He glanced at the fluttering flag white and blue flag and a soft smile graced his lips.
The sun was shining brightly, and the wind was comforting.
Gintoki felt his world go black…
Thump!
A soldier on the lookout gasped in surprise and yelled for his superior, "Commander! Look!"
The shout gained the attention of all the soldiers. Coming up from the river was a large ship that bore their symbol. The flag fluttered in the wind; its white and blue color stood out against the dark wood of the ship. Screams of joy and amazement resounded through the camp.
"He did it!"
"I can't believe it!"
"We're going to live!"
When the ship made its way onto the riverbed, it came to a stop. There were bated breaths as everyone waited for Gintoki step down and greet them with a smirk like he usually did whenever he went on a mission by himself. They waited…
When no one came down a tense silence settled over the group.
Ignoring the warning from their commander, Katsura, Sakamoto, and Takasugi rushed towards the ship and didn't waste any time climbing aboard. They halted in surprise and horror at the scene in front of them.
Gintoki was pale and motionless in a pool of blood.
And he wasn't moving…
Everything that happened next was a blur to the three…
"I need more bandages!"
"Where's the hot water?!"
"Has anyone found the pain medication?!"
"You there! Hold him down! I don't want him to wake up struggling!"
"He's lost too much blood!"
"The bleeding won't stop!"
"Support his head some more-"
"It…stopped…"
There was an eerie silence at those words. All activity stopped and stared at the medic with wide unbelieving eyes. Gintoki lay on the cot, pale and unmoving. Blood-soaked bandages covered his entire frame. He seemed to just be resting after a battle…but something was wrong with the image...
His chest wasn't moving.
"His heart…it stopped"
Katsura and Takasugi glared at the medic with enough force to make the man's heart freeze for a moment, but it was their deathly silent whisper that cause the surrounding soldiers to shiver in fear, "Well then do something about it!"
The medic looked at them in disbelief and sadly shook his head, "I can't bring the dead back…his heart has stopped. He's dead."
Katsura, Takasugi, and Sakamoto pushed the medic out of the way and gathered around Gintoki's still body. While their faces betrayed nothing, their eyes spoke of pain and the beginnings of insanity (They couldn't lose him…they couldn't... Shouka Sonjuku couldn'r lose another member…)
"Oi Gintoki…you're not this weak…wake up!"
"Gintoki…a samurai shouldn't sleep so much; it's unhealthy. Open your eyes!"
"Ahahaha. Ahahaha…Kintoki, this isn't the time for a nap, open your eyes and we'll play Uno"
The medic watched on sadly.
The three's voice became more insistent and soon they could hardly get out words at all.
In desperation, Sakamoto slammed his hands down on Gintoki's chest and screamed, "Wake up Gintoki! It's not the same without you!"
"Gintoki…please open your eyes"
"Gintoki…"
Sakamoto, Katsura, and Takasugi begged one last time…
And to everyone's surprise red eyes fluttered open before a soft groan could be heard, "I thought I would finally see some heavenly maidens welcoming me to the afterlife and instead I see three idiots calling me back down to hell."
News of Shiroyasha single handedly eliminating an entire force by himself spread through the land. Many of the Amanto who heard the news decided that taking over Earth wasn't worth it if they were going to lose many of their troops to a demon. Others began to lose moral and left to go back to their home planets; they saw no point in fighting a losing war.
There were also some Amanto who saw the samurai's determination and decided that they had no right to take someone's home away from them and began to aid the samurai in expelling the other Amanto (To some Amanto…war was war and it was more intriguing to fight alongside such beings that carried a strong fighting spirit in their hearts).
Two months after Gintoki's single handed elimination of the Amanto troops, the Amanto signed a treaty of surrender.
The Amanto who were the main instigators of the war would leave Earth and never return. The Amanto who aided the samurai would be allowed to stay on Earth after they went through several questionings and screenings. They would become liaisons to space.
The traitorous Bakufu was taken out of power and a new one was created in its place.
A month after the war ended…Shiroyasha disappeared.
Only to reappear in an area known as Kabukichou as Sakata Gintoki, a fish-eyed man who carried around a wooden sword, was the lamest excuse of a man anyone had ever met, and owned a business he called…
Yoruzuya Gin-chan