AUTHOR'S NOTE: Heyya! Another update from me mwahaha! This chapter is by far the hardest I've written because I didnt want too much OOCness but I think I get overboard. You can say you will see some intense climax now. Hold onto your pants. Lol Im kidding.
First and foremost forgive me for being drastic in this chapter bahahahahahahahaha. Okay shut up me.
Response to reviews:
LyHy: Hey Love. Thank you so much for keeping tabs on my stories. Your reviews always make me happy and excited hehe. Yups if Kagura can have both mwahaha I dont mind sharing her with both of them. Though there is always guilt somewhere in my heart for making her pair up with men their age. I know I shouldnt but omg I feel they are just right for each other.
DJ Broken Wang: Hey hey hey! Thank you for the review love! Awww my story is not that fantastic like those out there. Pretty amateur if you ask me. I'm writing to escape boredom so forgive me if I write simple bahaha. Since its Kagura POV, so why not? And I admit I'm lazy when I have to write structured colourful paragraphs. Im sorry! I try to keep it entertaining as possible. Cheers and Peace!
Chapter 4: I'm old enough to decide what I want to wear and do, bakagaki!
Kagura has the sun on her face, letting the harmful rays cascading on her as though the heat is non-existent. Staring into the merciless light bestowed on her, she lets her mind dwell in the memories of the incident at the kimono boutique.
The man in black uniform whom she hated his guts to the core actually saved her. That mortal who chose to suffer the scorching heat of explosion actually carried her out and brought her to safety.
The same idiot who she thought was cold and heartless actually willed to sacrifice himself for an illegal immigrant, or better yet, a pesky foul-mouthed brat like her.
What has gotten into her? Why is she thinking this deep for a man like him?
The more she digs her head for him, the more questions than answers she gets.
Her thoughts are in a mess she cannot entangle. The confusion weighs on her as her eyes droop lazily, drained out by the summer heat as though she finds a need to see how long she can withstand the ultraviolet shower of pain.
"Kagura-san!"
Shade hovers her and she looks up to Yamazaki who has returned with her umbrella.
"I could have died, stupid anpan! If I die, I will haunt you!" she yells back, shoving the guilt on him.
"Gomenasai!" Yamazaki holds the umbrella for her while his head bows in respect. "I also get the other stuff you wanted."
Kagura grabs the plastic bag that is hooked on Yamazaki's arm. She pulls out a can of Oronamin C drink and she quickly chugs it empty, quenching her thirst. Her eyes brighten to see her sukonbu, already chewing onto a piece.
Yamazaki giggles nervously at her excited self. "Ano, are you sure you don't want to visit the clinic?"
"Uruse! Can't you see I'm fine?! Are you underestimating the Yato clan?! The heat from that kind of fire will not kill me!" she grumbles with the seaweed in her mouth.
The fact she just whined earlier for waiting under the sun really baffles Yamazaki. "I heard you clearly, Kagura-san. Is there anything else I can help you? Or else, I'll go and search for Shinpachi."
"Why?"
"Eh, ano, didn't Fuku-chou tell me to-"
"I mean, why is your boss like that?!" Kagura raises her voice. "Why does he still act all cool and mighty after almost getting killed in an explosion? Did he think he is Frieza?!"
"Ma, ma," Yamazaki smiles sheepishly, feeling threatened. "No one really understand how Fuku-chou works."
Kagura grinds her teeth. "And you still wag your tail at him? Really expected from Bakufu dogs."
Yamazaki's eyes twitch. "Eh, who're you? You're Kagura-chan, right?"
The umbrella in Yamazaki's hand is snatched by her and she conceals herself fully. Yamazaki bats his eyes at her, thinking of looking under it but thinks better that he stays as he is. He knows well that this girl can punch his guts out of his throat.
"What's the matter, Kagura-san?"
Pictures of the two-faced deceased owner play in her mind.
"Why did that woman want to kill him? Did he sneak into her bedroom when she was sleeping?"
Yamazaki cringes, "No, no, no! Hijikata-san would never do that!"
"She definitely liked him," Kagura grunts. "She probably slept with him before."
"Oi, Kagura-chan! You misunderstood everything! There was no such relationship! Actually she was one of the cases assigned to me by Hijikata-san!"
"A case?" Kagura tries to reconsider.
"Yes, a case," Yamazaki clenches his fists, scrunching his face in regret. "Hijikata-san told me that she was suspected to smuggle explosives along with her shipment of garments. I have been investigating this case for months, sneaking into her shipment affairs but I have yet obtained any evidence. I intended to close the case but Hijikata-san rejected the idea. He was certain about his suspicion and I cannot argue with him. Hijikata-san is always strict when it is about abandoning a case he himself introduced."
Kagura snorts. "So he did drag me into a case he's working on."
"Not really," Yamazaki chuckles lightly. "The last time we revised this case was last year."
"Eh? You mean?"
"We only keep low surveillance on her. After all, her brand of kimono is popular here in Kabuki-cho so it will be unfair to her customers if we close the boutique because of mere suspicion. Everyone really loves the range of textiles she provides. Even the Shogun's sister purchases her clothes there. I'm actually surprised Hijikata-san plans to buy you a kimono from there. You must have made it to his good list."
Kagura stops chewing, recalling how Hijikata plans to buy her the kimono. She remembers his subtle examination of the boutique outside and inside because he wants to make sure it is safe for her to enter. Even the door, he was the one who opened it, showing how meticulous he was about the store. He could also have captured sight of bombs when he stared among the garments at the same time Rin introduced herself.
But the thought of Hijikata going through that much trouble so she can get a kimono from a popular store is beyond her. He could have picked a normal store but he insisted on that popular one, despite how dangerous it is.
I owe you one, China.
And he selfishly takes responsibility over what happened.
"Oi," Kagura eventually speaks. "I'm not in his good list. If anything, I will be the one who wants to kill him."
"Eh?" Yamazaki steps back. "But he saved you just now."
"What are you saying? Save me? So you think I'm indebted to him. Don't joke with me!" Kagura stands up and tears the sukonbu from her hand chewing hard. "I want to teach him a lesson. A lesson Gori-san forgets to teach. Hell, maybe if he teaches, it will never get into his mayo-stuffed brain. He needs a full swing kick of mine!"
Yamazaki trembles, imagining the red aura simmer above the purple umbrella. "W-w-what lesson will that be, Kagura-chan?"
The umbrella lifts slightly, unveiling bright blue eyes aglow in her shadow. "Girls my age don't care about popular brand or fashion trend! We just wear what our mothers want us to wear!"
Yamazaki feels as though two tonnes of bricks slammed on his head. "Eh? T-that's it?"
"You gotta a problem?!"
"No, no, no!" Yamazaki shakes his hands. "You're right! Fuku-chou should know that!"
Kagura snorts and swirls around. "Let me find that idiot!"
"B-but, Kagura-chan, you have to be with Shinpachi-"
"I'm not going to listen to people who eats anpan or mayo for a living!"
"Eh?!"
Yamazaki stands frozen as the vermillion head makes a move, leaving the bench. The inspector shrugs and tousles his hair thinking if leaving it be is a good idea. In terms of strength, Yamazaki is no match against Kagura so forcing her down physically is out of question. Perhaps he should just watch her from afar.
But he has to do something before Hijikata finds him not doing what he was told to do.
Peeking from the corner of a building, Kagura has her eyes fixed on Hijikata resting against the wall, not far from the scorched boutique. Chaos is happening amidst him, firemen putting out the fire and some ushering bystanders to keep away from the place. Many Shinsengumi officers are deployed to contain the area as well as stay in lookout just in case terrorists take advantage of the mess and trigger a riot. When the vice-chief is weakened, it gives opportunity for the Jouis to plunge in for his death.
Kagura softens her gaze on the man whose arms and head are bandaged. He is leaning, his body almost become one with the wall. His lips are still clenching on the cigarette, that seems burning into waste as the smoker cannot suck in another gulp of gaseous nicotine. Kagura seeks for his eyes that are closely hidden by his thick wet eyelashes, damped by the perspiration from the heat of the fire. The blistering pain of his burns continues to torture him.
Her hands holding the umbrella tighten, just as tight as her chest when she gazes at the battered body of Hijikata. It was only a moment ago she was the one who beat him up. He whined and rambled but he still walked alongside her.
Why? It is only for the mission.
Even though she knows his intentions, her heart refuses to hold hatred towards him. In matter of fact, her eyes are churning in a stinging sensation, watching the man who nearly lost his life because of her.
And what did she do in return?
She reprimanded him, accused him, degraded him.
And he took it all without giving her a fist up to her face. Because he said he would not hit a woman.
Last time she checked, there was no more gentleman living on the surface of this Earth.
Yet he might be one survivor, almost becoming an asshole just like the people he hangs out with.
Abruptly, the cancer stick falls off his lips. Dark green hair flutters like feathers on his damp forehead. Kagura stiffens, anguish washed over her. She shifts her gaze towards his subordinates who are busy attending to the chaos. No one is looking at him. Her heart screams for someone to take him to the hospital.
Her toes curl in, her every heartbeat hammering her chest. She wants to leap into the scene and either admonish his men for ignoring him or carrying him herself to the hospital.
Her right foot lifts up.
"Mayora..," she whispers, her head poking out from the corner.
Something holds her back. The fleeting weight on her collar hurls her away from the corner and she has her back pasted roughly against the wall. Two arms trap her, as she flinches looking up into bronze red eyes staring down on her.
"You!"
A coy smirk stretches on his lips. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Get off me, Sadist."
"You think Hijikata is dead?" Sadist sneers. "You're wrong. He can only die if I want him to."
Kagura charges her umbrella forward, causing Sougo to take a jump back and clash his sword against her umbrella. They press their weapons on one another, eyes piercing in anger.
"I heard you both nearly died in that explosion," Sougo states placidly. "I would have made him suffer for making me lose my bait."
"Just how black is your soul, bakagaki?!" Kagura berates. "Are you seriously happy seeing your comrade like that?"
"Comrade?" Sougo snorts. "Are you pulling my leg?"
Kagura hisses. "No, I will chop it off!"
She exerts an extra ounce of force, levering herself to kick Sougo in the face. The sandy haired flies back, opening his eyes in time to brace his sword forward before her diving foot reaches his head. In mid-air, Sougo twists and attacks with a kick up her stomach, causing her to rise high above the ground.
Taking advantage of her dragged movement in the air, Sougo slices his sword at her arm but she dodges in skilfully, stepping on his head before kicking him on the face again, this time on his right cheek. He cusses not giving in and sneaks a sly attack where he hits the hilt of his sword at her knee, breaking her air dance and she plunges hard to ground.
"Itte!" Kagura squeezes her knee to her chest and swings her umbrella forward, shooting bullets at Sougo.
The first captain dodges with his sword and leaps, a white smirk playing on his lips. Again, he intends to attack her head but Kagura swiftly shifts and punches his chest, getting him nailed to the wall opposite her.
"Oi, baka Sadist! You're the one who's going to lose the bait yourself! What are you thinking hitting me like this?!" Kagura grumbles, rubbing her hurt knee, soothing it.
Sougo stabs his blade onto the ground, a sign of frustration mixed with pain. "Why are you peeking at him?"
Kagura widens her eyes and then pouts. "That's none of your business."
"It's bloody my business. You're supposed to work for me, not him."
"What are you, a kid? Does it matter who I'm with? And I only agreed because of Gin-chan, not you."
"I paid for you," Sougo grunts, with venom dripping from his voice. "You served me after Danna. You heard me, China?"
Kagura frowns deeply, her eyes staring at him in disbelief. He is just another guy like Hijikata who continues to baffle her. Why can't Shinsengumi officers be simpletons like their chief?
"To think you'll be wearing a kimono that he bought for you, it makes me feel sick," Sougo chuckles darkly, rising to his feet. "I never take you as someone who is that low and pathetic to play dress up for old men like him."
"Teme! I want to cut your tongue for saying such things about me!" Kagura also rises to her feet, with clenched teeth and furrowed brows. "Like I said before, Gin-chan wanted me to dress up. Were you listening?! Are you deaf?! No, you're just an idiot!"
"If I told you to just wear whatever you have, will you do it?"
"Of course I will!" Kagura spits at her right. "I love my own style, baka!"
"Is that so?" Sougo smiles, almost a genuine one that Kagura flinches back in surprise. "Then, just wear the one that I can see your pink undies and long bare legs."
Her face blooms red. "Teme! I will kill you!"
"You cannot even touch me."
"I just kicked your face twice!"
"I don't remember."
"Fuku-chou!"
Kagura picks up Yamazaki's voice from behind. Immediately she turns and sees the inspector unscrewing a bottle before tipping it towards Hijikata's mouth. Kagura stares at the closed eyelids, begging them to open.
Hijikata eventually shivers, coughing out some water he drank. One eye opens, half-lidded and gazing at Yamazaki calling him to conscious.
Relief sweeps over Kagura's face, her lips curling up into a smile.
"Oi!"
Kagura looks up from the corner of her eyes, noticing Sougo raise a fist towards her. From the height he is suspended, it will be a massive blow.
"Don't get distracted when you're with me!"
She can barely move, unprepared for Sougo's attack. A prayer crosses her heart, thinking that punishment comes early after how horrible she has treated Hijikata. She closes her eyes, succumbing to her loss against her rival.
Sougo however cannot reach her as an intruder blasts him with a kick. White kimono sways before Kagura, along with bright silver perms.
"Gin-chan?"
"Oi, oi," Gintoki slurs, standing in front of Kagura. "This is not what we agreed on."
"Danna?" Sougo gasps.
The brown envelope is removed from Gintoki's chest and he tosses it back to Sougo. Kagura scrunches her face, confused.
"We decline taking the job. It's too dangerous."
Sougo blinks at the white samurai, "What are you saying, Danna? I already explained-"
"Do you think I trust you tax robbers fully? Give me a break," Gintoki sighs. "This case of yours stinks of Harusame. I have my own sources, kusogaki."
Sougo gives a side-smile. "As expected of Yorozuya. You're very protective over her."
Gintoki smirks. "I know Kagura can handle them but if it is something she can avoid, I'll make sure she will."
"So it is," Sougo holds the envelope tightly that it creases in his hand.
"Let's go, Kagura."
"But Gin-chan," Kagura cannot finish her sentence as the silverhead takes her hand and pulls her away.
She insists to glance at where Hijikata is but to her surprise, Hijikata is not there anymore. Her body becomes reluctant to follow Gintoki, as her eyes keep looking back, searching for that man. They then turn a corner, cutting off her chances to have the last glimpse of Hijikata.
Irked, she grips Gintoki's hand around her wrist and plummets it to the ground, causing Gintoki slip and fall.
"Oi! What was that for?!"
Kagura scoffs. "Don't treat me like a darn kid! I can walk on my own, Gin-chan!"
"I know, I know," Gintoki sighs, climbing back on his feet. "What's the matter with you? Feeling the mood? Is it the time of the month already?"
"I'm... I'm sorry," Kagura bows her head.
Gintoki cocks a brow, unsure what she means. Inevitably, he ruffles her head, forcing out a chuckle. "What are you apologising for? If it's about the money, don't worry about it. I just received a new job that involves the three of us. I heard it's more fun than the one Sadist gives. So cheer up."
"No, Gin-chan."
Kagura sweeps away Gintoki's hand, causing the man to express irritation in his brows.
"I should finish what I've started. That's what you taught me before, right, Gin-chan?"
"Oi," Gintoki blurts involuntarily, really speechless.
Kagura turns away from facing Gintoki, opening her umbrella to hide half of her. "Sorry I can't follow you this time, Gin-chan. Because I owe someone a favour."
"You mean that Sadist?" Gintoki scowls in disbelief. "He nearly smacked you in the face if I didn't stop him. And I don't really like you hanging out with him in the first place."
"Not him, Gin-chan! He's my rival! Why would I want to hang out with him?!"
Gintoki drops his shoulders in defeat. "Ano, Kagura. Is it really necessary for you to act tsundere right now? Even an idiot like me can tell you have feelings towards that slacker-"
Kagura winces and in reflex, she dives a full-blown kick on Gintoki, having him floored with a painful wail reverberating down the alley. Gintoki cusses, intending to shove the kid one of his Daddy punches on the head when he stares into the glistened blue orbs of the redhead.
That gaze of hers, when was the last time Gintoki was looked down like this?
He remembers.
It was when Gintoki intended to avenge Otose on his own after Jirocho hurt her. Kagura was furious beyond her mind that she could have awaken her Yato instinct.
She is mad right now.
What did Gintoki do now to attain this gaze on him again?
"Who're you calling tsundere? Me having feelings for that bastard sadist? Gin-chan, do you want to die?"
"Eh," Gintoki nervously giggles. "Then what else makes you want to do that mission, Kagura-chan?"
She tears her gaze off Gintoki so sharply that Gintoki feels his soul is ripped out of his chest.
Her eyes stare at the former spot where the injured vice-chief was sitting a moment ago. She has not yet fathomed the reason why her heart is driven madly by the disappearance of Hijikata. She feels the same way when that kimono woman pulled him away from her and also when Sougo talked about Hijikata like he owns the vice-chief's life.
The most baffling thing is that she dared to raise her fist at Gintoki for pulling her away from Hijikata.
Can it be she is possessed by the demon vice-chief?
No. She is the possessive one. Possessive of Hijikata.
That's right. It is finally clear to her.
She is obsessed of him now. Her eyes yearn to see those blue eyes on her again.
"Kagura-chan?"
She looks at Gintoki sitting on the ground.
A dark chuckle escapes her, followed by a white smile lengthened against her fair skinned face.
"Gin-chan."
The bored eyed samurai blinks hesitantly. "Yeah?"
"There is someone I cannot stop thinking about. I get excited when I see him smile or laugh but I am more excited when I watch him frown, agitated and especially when he is helpless in my grip. And I want to break the bones of whoever touches him, talks about him or even mentions his name. Gin-chan, I want to keep him in my closet for the rest of my life."
Gintoki scampers away in a safe distance. He swears he just heard a sermon from a devil. He quickly thinks of an answer so he will not get attacked again.
"Ma... Sadaharu cannot fit in there, Kagura-chan," Gintoki forces out a chuckle.
"It's not Sadaharu, Baka Gin-chan."
"Then who?!" Gintoki bristles, not favouring the sight of her sadistic aura cloud all around her.
Smoking lips. Blue eyes. Dark green hair.
Kagura licks her lips hungrily and marches away from the Yorozuya boss.
"Sukonbu. My yummy seaweed candy, Sukonbu."
Ohhhhhhh! Kagura's sadistic side has awaken!
Everyone take cover! No, no! Someone save Hijikata!
Bahahaa! I think I'm the one sadistic enough to write her like that. I mean, who doesnt want to own Hijikata bahaha! He's hot and cute I want to keep him! Of course, I want to keep Gintoki too so Hijikata wont be lonely!
Okay, put me aside lol. What do you think of this chappie! Too drastic right! I know I kept Okikagu moment very short but there will be more. Anyways this is Hijikagu fanfic so they are focused here.
Damn it I can imagine Hijikata under Kagura now omg!
Okay see ya next chappie peeps!