Old Edo Days

AN: My version as to what happened after Takasugi lost his eye...

Gintoki and Katsura sat inside the tent, harsh rain battering against their tent mercilessly. They'd been waiting for nearly five hours now and flinched when the cloth flap of the tent flickered. They were waiting in agony.

Takasugi had been gruesomely injured in the last battle. There had been Dakini among the usual beast Amanto, and the evident damage was visible in their fighters. More than usual were missing, most never found, and they had trudged back to one of their bases with a bleeding Takasugi in tow. He had been sent to their medics as soon as they hit the grounds.

The tent flap flew open. Suddenly, Gintoki's sword whipped out like a snake, as though on instinct. Standing at the door flap, drenched in rain water, was Yamamoto, supported by Ichi, a female samurai.

Yamamoto said, "Takasugi Dono is stable. They think he's going to be okay, but-."

Gintoki and Katsura both roughly pushed past the pair without another word. Yamamoto hopped after them rapidly, leaning on Ichi, and tried to continue, saying, "Shiroyasha Dono, please! The medic said that it wasn't good for Takasugi Dono to receive visitors unless he's fully recovered-."

"No one's 'fully recovered' in this war, Yamamoto San," Katsura said hurriedly, trying to keep up with Gintoki in the brutal rain while still keeping Yamamoto in sight. "And Takasugi is one of the commanding officers. He needs to be updated with every matter of our forces."

"But still, his wounds-!"

"Unless he's missing an eye, I don't care!" Gintoki fumed, the rain hot on his skin. "We're going to see that bastard whether the medic says so or not!"

They barged into the nearest tent- being the infirmary tent- and one of the most strangest sights greeted the four samurai; Takasugi was confined in a starch cot, bandages wrapped around lean muscled arms and chest. He was facing away from them, so they could only see his dark hair-

-and then he turned to see them. On his face was a bloody bandage, over where his left eye should have been glaring at them. The bandage was heavily soaked in crimson liquid, making the black hole behind it nearly visible, even in the storm outside. The lantern light shadowed his face, making it gaunt.

Katsura opened and closed his mouth in shock. Gintoki stared and said, "You're a pirate now?"

His screams erupted across the base as Takasugi nearly crushed him with metal pans filled with medical disposal and waste and flying swords.

...

Now they were calmly sitting around Takasugi's cot, the latter sitting upright. Gintoki sat across from Katsura, bruised with several welts on his head. Yamamoto and Ichi were sitting only a little away from their commanding officers.

Katsura was saying, "The last food supply that came in from the Bakufu was nearly a month ago. I doubt they don't know where we are, as we've told them before. But so far, we've told the men that it's just late to avoid worry. In addition," here Katsura took a deep breath, "we received word from scouts that the Dakini have moved on to Edo. They've apparently been stationed there, along with several other powerful Amanto species with their weapons. Guns and cannons to name a few."

Takasugi let out the breath he had been holding in. "Keep reassuring the men," he told Katsura. "That's the best we can do until we starve to death. As for Edo, we aren't going to risk going there. Not after our fight here."

Gintoki nodded, his arms crossed. "That's what we planned. So we just stay here? Some of our scouts said that we found some Amanto prowling around. They're a bit too close for comfort."

"Do you wanna find us another place to stay, Gintoki?" Takasugi snarled, making Yamamoto flinch. "Be my guest."

"Alright, easy, easy. You're so angry, just because you became a pirate-."

Takasugi's remaining eye twitched. "If you don't leave this tent in one second-."

"- you know, pirates don't have this kind of anger issue-."

"Get OUT!" he spat, picking up a sword- heaven knew what it was doing by Takasugi's bedside- and sending it in Gintoki's direction. The Shiroyasha barely escaped with his life.

Takasugi glared at Katsura, Yamamoto, and Ichi. "Why are you all still here? Dismissed." They left, even Katsura who shared his rank.

When they stumbled outside, they saw Gintoki's face drawn into darkness, the rain beating on him relentlessly. He muttered, "How the hell does he think he's going to fight like that?"

Katsura could only sigh. "He's strong, Gintoki. I think if anyone can do it, it's Takasugi."

Gintoki looked back at the tent- not with pity, but with determination. He resolved then and there to let Takasugi, injury or not, fight his battles. "You're right about something for once, Zura."

"It's not Zura, it's Katsura."

Takasugi sank back into the cot, a hand hovering delicately over his left eye. He knew Gintoki had been trying to cheer him up in his own way. Ten, twenty years later and he wouldn't even care about his eye anymore. In any case, it had been a price to pay; the eye for a battle. Other men lost more than just body parts. In war, he shouldn't mope just because he lacked two eyes. Instead, he should attempt to grow stronger by making up for his handicap. He should be grateful that he wasn't dead.

Still, he gritted his teeth together and muffled a howl deep in his chest. He ripped the bandage off, and a frigid blast of night and rain cooled the hot blood. He risked infection, and by risking infection he risked death- but at the moment he didn't care. He left the yawning jaws of his ruined eye open to the world, daring anything to spit upon it in disgust.

He paid the price to protect his country, and he was proud. No ordinary person would have thrown such a thing away.

If Takasugi had lost his eye, I think Gintoki would have tried to hide his worry. I respect Takasugi for bearing loss of sight so bravely. If I went even half-blind, I would be... 0-0

Thanks to all readers and reviewers! These three chapters in one day was just to say, "thanks for all the support!" Now the updates will continue regularly (regular which is irregular). Thank you again, and I mean it!

I promise to use other ideas. Thank you to Niente de Nada for correcting several errors! Birthdays are a good idea too