Heart of Students

AN: I hear of movies where this happens, and it scares me. I don't like it when dogs are hurt...

Thank you to all those who reviewed. You inspire me to keep writing because I feel like people enjoy it that much. For those who just read to enjoy, it always delights me to see how many people read this. I'm forever greatful.

And new update- I'm done with finals so I can finally update a little more! Probably on the regular schedule or so, but let's see. Please enjoy!


Sensei had sent the trio to get a very important package back to him from the village. He had ordered it from one of the nearby blacksmiths, but was too busy to go get it himself.

"I wonder if you three are able to get it for me," Shoyo had said gently. "It's very important that I get it."

"Sure, Sensei," Katsura said, grinning. "It's no problem."

"Can we bring Jiyuu too?"

"Always."

So they had gone to town, avoiding Mina Kun and his dog (Gintoki had developed a paranoia of female dogs interacting with Jiyuu), and received the package after confirming that they were retrieving it in Shoyo Yoshida's place.

"Just a measure," the blacksmith said, nodding. "Don't want anyone taking customer's orders."

"Thank you," Katsura called back as they left, Jiyuu leading the way proudly with his tail upright in the air.

They continued on until Gintoki saw- Katsura swore that he sensed with his anti-female dog radar- Mina Kun walking down the same road, hands in his hakama pockets and his loyal Wan Chan by his side.

"This way!" he hissed, dragging Jiyuu and Katsura over, Takasugi following and shaking his head. They took a long detour, maneuvering their way in the maze of the town.

Takasugi said, "You need to overcome this paranoia. Jiyuu's going to grow up and-."

"No! Don't say it, please! I'm not listening, I can't hear you~!"

"Because I'm not saying anything, you stupid perm-head!"

Suddenly, they went quiet. Not only was the sun hiding behind the clouds, but there was no one on this street. Vague sounds of the busy street somewhere else was scarcely heard over the wind.

"I don't like it," Katsura said uncomfortably.

Gintoki nodded. "Then let's hurry."

But Jiyuu had stopped and was making a threatening sound in his throat. His tail was erect, wine eyes narrowed forward; a man wearing a dirty hakama was staggering over, a sake bottle in his clumsy hands. His face was shadowed, so no expression was seen, but there was no denying that the man was drunk.

Takasugi nodded at his friends silently and they walked quickly, trying to avoid confrontation. But the man hiccupped and said in a slurred voice, "Oi, kids."

Whether because they were stupid or because they were scared, all three and Jiyuu stopped right where they stood.

"What's that you got there?" He turned almost comically and tried to walk towards them. The rotting smell of food and hatred rolled off of him.

"Nothing you need."

"Give it here."

"This isn't yours," Gintoki said, and Jiyuu snarled harshly, fur bristling on his haunches.

The seemingly drunken man only grinned and said, "Not yet, it isn't. But it will be."

Without warning, he lurched forward and grabbed Gintoki by the arm. Since he didn't bring his bokutou with him, he resorted to trying to snap the man's wrist off. But the man was stronger, and dragged Gintoki closer. He dropped the sake bottle in his other hand, the bottle smashing to the ground, and tried to grab the parcel.

Takasugi and Katsura shouted, "Stop it!" and tried to tear Gintoki from the man's grip. But the man shrugged them, one hand grabbing the parcel, and then-

"Ow!" he howled, and looked down, letting go of Gintoki. Jiyuu was digging his fangs into his leg, biting savagely and making horrifying growling sounds as he did so. "Let go, mutt!"

Jiyuu snarled in response, teeth sinking into his flesh, and the man howled.

Suddenly, he reached down unsteadily and grabbed Jiyuu's back. Jiyuu yelped and let go, but the man used that one moment of release to push back and kick Jiyuu right in the side, sending the puppy sprawling into some stray pieces of glass from the broken sake bottle. Jiyuu seemed to scream and then fell silent.

Takasugi and Gintoki, enraged, jumped and tore at the man like demons. Arm slung over the neck tightly, they pulled with enough force and weight to send the man crashing to the ground like the drunk he was. His head smashed mercilessly against the ground and with a moan, he was unconscious.

Katsura was at Jiyuu's side, trying to rouse the puppy. "Get up, Jiyuu. Come on, you're okay-!" He seemed to lose air when the puppy shifted and whined, dark red smears staining the ground with ugly colors.

Gintoki and Takasugi were right by Katsura, eyes wide and faces pale. Takasugi's grip on the parcel had turned slack.

"Let's just get him home," Katsura said in a shaky voice. "C'mon, please, let's go."

Gintoki nodded and quickly cradled the dog in his arms, nearly staggering under its weight. The three ran without stop or hesitation in the cold until they saw the edge of the dojo. Without bothering to remove their wooden sandals or their outside wraps, they ran inside until they found Sensei inside the classroom.

"Sensei!" they yelled, their voices hoarse. They slid the shoji door aside wildly and their teacher looked up to see them, startled.

"What is it, you three? What's wrong with Jiyuu?"

Takasugi looked back and then jerked his gaze away; he only just noticed the droplets of blood they had left behind them. Gintoki stepped forward almost shivering. He gestured to the crying puppy in his arms. "Please help."

...

"Though I"m glad that you were able to deliver the package, I worry for Jiyuu," Shoyo Sensei said wearily. "I have treated his injuries to the best of my ability. He has to heal on his own now."

"He's okay," Gintoki said dully, eyes trailing off to the still breathing puppy resting on the thin blanket. "He's still okay."

Sensei continued, "So you three do not know where this man went?"

"He's unconscious," Takasugi said, cold and sadistic. His unvoiced thoughts of hate and violence were heard by everyone in the room.

Shoyo sighed. "Avoid that street from now one. And Gintoki, perhaps a female companion for Jiyuu will not be so bad."

Gintoki did not crack a smile nor look away from Jiyuu, who was starting to whine quietly. "Alright, Sensei. I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault," was all he said and he left. The three were left in the room with Jiyuu.

Slowly, Katsura crept over to Jiyuu and stroked his furry head endearingly. "I'm sorry, Jiyuu," he said quietly. "We didn't mean anything. We're sorry. Really."

"Shut up, Zura," Takasugi said, his voice gruff, as if holding back shaky tears. "It's our fault. He knows it, and we know it."

"Sensei said it's not-."

"Sensei wasn't there," he snapped. "We can't take care of Jiyuu. I knew from the beginning that we shouldn't have tried. Look where it got him- bleeding because of a maniac drunk. It would have been better if he had died on the streets."

"Shut up," snarled Gintoki, and Takasugi shut his mouth. Gintoki turned to look at Jiyuu, who was still whining and now trying to bat at Katsura's shin with his soft paws. "He's listening."

Takasugi's mouth was an unforgiving line of worry. They stayed in the room until Shoyo found them well into midnight, heads propped against each other's shoulders, and Jiyuu wrapped safely in a blanket and tucked in their warm embrace.


... What in the name of...

Okay... depressing... this is what school does to me when I don't get to write my fan fiction. Fluff flies out the window and doesn't come back.

Still, uh... review and see you next chapter.