Hey guys. Im updating through my phone again... So troublesome. I need to use manual html coding -_- My results were DISASTROUS. Im sorry i didnt study hard enough T.T so now i need to say bye to my computer and possibly phone from 28 october onwards... I. Am. Sulking. Ugh. Anyway, i hope i can like give you guys a somewhat happier ending to make up for the last chapter. If youre depressed u would happen to write depressing things too!
Phase Twelve
Kondo almost tore his hair out in frustration. He stood up, his abruptness throwing his chair backwards and crashing onto the ground. Pounding the table with his fists, his red, bloodshot eyes demanded the attention of everyone in the room.
Hijikata sat next to him, a frown above his closed eyes, the usual cigarette dangling from his lips, thin wisps of smoke curling up into the air. His arms were folded across his chest and his legs were crossed over each other.
The rest of the Shinsengumi watched the frustration of their commanders in thick silence. No one dared to make a sound. Yamazaki was sitting so straight his back ached, but combined with nervously timid nature, he refused to slouch even an inch, lest the wrath of an angry Vice-Commander.
The members of the First Division sat in a row across the room right in front of the commanders, leaving an empty spot where their Captain used to sit spitting annoying sadistic remarks at Hijikata. None of them made a sound, but occasional glances at the empty space couldn't be stopped, as if they were expecting the sandy-haired sadist to suddenly appear, leaning against the wall with his ridiculous eyemask.
All attention was dedicated to Kondo. Just like what he wanted.
'Everyone listen up. We have information from the Government that Takasugi Shinsuke is planning another attack against Edo. And alongside him stands the Yato, Kamui.'
Almost at once, a rumble of low murmuring voices resonated around the room.
'You bastards shut the hell up and listen to Kondo-san, damn it!' Hijikata was pissed, and everyone knew that even though he and Sougo didn't get along well, they were still comrades, and he was sore over losing him still.
The ripples of voices died down and Kondo looked around to make sure every man was listening.
'We have been requested to dispatch the First Division killing squad to wipe them out.' Kondo paused for effect. 'Takasugi has won the support of the Harusame space pirates, and we need to be very careful. This is to avenge our comrades who have fallen during the first attack three months ago.'
First Division stood up and nodded.
'We won't tolerate giving up, you hear?' Hijikata stood up and glared at them. 'We're going to kick Amanto ass. And I am going to rip Takasugi's head off his shoulders.'brbr
Silence filled the room, but dissipated with the thunderous cheers and claps of support from every Shinsengumi member.
'All other divisions be prepared as well. You will serve as backup. Understood?'
'Yes, Kondo-san.' It was the first thing every man agreed simultaneously on.
Gintoki lazed on the couch with the latest copy of Jump covering his face, his chest rising and falling as he slept. A half carton of strawberry milk stood on the coffee table beside him, and the phone was ringing.
'GIN-SAN!' Shinpachi's shrill voice tore through the air, harmonizing with the ringing phone. 'PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!'
Gintoki groaned and covered his ears, turning to the side, ignoring him.
Shinpachi hurried to the landline, irritated, holding his headphones. 'Hello? Yes, it's the Yorozuya, the boss is busy for the moment, how may we help you?'
The line disconnected.
Shinpachi blinked for a couple of seconds. '...uhm, hello? Excuse me?'
'Good riddance,' Gintoki yawned, still holding the plug of the landline. 'It was so noisy.'
'Gin-san, that could have been our first job in three months!' Shinpachi threw the phone back down onto the receiver and made a grab for the plug. 'What did you do? Otose-san isn't going to tolerate anymore of our freeloading, and Ane-ue is going to make me resign if this goes on!'
'Just tell all the customers that we won't be handling requests for the time being. I'm not in the mood.' Gintoki tossed the plug to Shinpachi, who hugged it to his chest. 'And tell the old lady that I'm guarding her life with mine as payment, like I promised her husband.'
'That was your promise for eating the food offered to him, not for the house rent!'
'In order to protect her, I need to live near her, just assume accommodation is provided. So shut up, Megane.'
'Gin-san, you're not the one hurting most right now.'
Gintoki halted in his steps, but didn't reply or turn around.
'Think about it. Who's the one hurting most right now? Who's the one who needs comforting the most now? So stop feeling sorry for yourself! It's your job to care for Hino-chan, so do your job! And if Hino-chan isn't harping over this, all the more you shouldn't be!' Shinpachi's face was livid, his cheeks red, his eyes bulging in anger, his fists clenched and waving.
Gintoki cracked a slight smirk. 'Who are you to lecture me, Megane?' he turned around and jabbed a finger at Shinpachi. 'I am the almighty Gin-san! I know what to do and how to live! I don't take lectures, I give them, Shinpachi-kun.'
Shinpachi stared at the silver-haired samurai in front of him, feeling a sudden wave of intimidation.
Gintoki turned around back to the door and stepped out.
'GIN-SAN! Where do you think you're going?'
'I'm going to look for customers, idiot. Plug the phone back in and tell every customer "yes" like always!'
Stunned, Shinpachi plugged the landline back, and it rang immediately. 'Uhm, yes, this is Yorozuya...'
Takasugi glanced sideways at Kamui, who beamed in his adorably annoying manner. 'Kamui. Shinsengumi is weaker now, don't fail in your duties.'
'Ah, Takasugi, don't be negative! We haven't even started the war!'
'No, but we're starting,' Takasugi narrowed his eye in the distance of the dirt plain and flashed out his katana, narrowly deflecting a bullet aimed perfectly at his heart, 'right about now.'
Kamui opened his azure eyes in surprised, his mouth forming a small circle, as if he has just seen a child fall down. 'My, my. Eager, aren't we?'
Takasugi waved an arm. 'Attack!'
The Harusame charged forward, spilling from their ship like a river plummeting down from a waterfall. The Amanto carried misery-inducing weapons and matched their horrendous outer appearance. As different as they could be, they shared the same bloodlust in their eyes.
'Shit,' Hijikata cursed. 'They have more Amanto than we predicted.'
'Don't think that way, Toushi.' Kondo placed a hand on Hijikata's shoulder. 'We're not losing anyone today. We're going to kick buttー'
The Shinsengumi's commander tripped over a stone and fell on his face.
'Kondo-san...' Hijikata unsheathed his katana. 'Watch your own butt. This is real war.'
Red-faced, Kondo sprang to his feet. 'I...I got it!'
The whole First Division rushed forward, revenge and aggression fueling their strength as they slashed down the weaker Amanto without the slightest touch of mercy. They moved as a body, with a common battle cry: 'For Okita-Taichou!'
Hijikata and Kondo stood back to back, staining their uniforms and swords with fresh blood once more. Red liquid oozed from the fatal wounds they delivered, splattering onto their faces.
But unlike the previous battle, neither of them felt exhausted or disgusted. Adrenaline pumped in their blood, and with every fallen Amanto, the victorious pleasure in their chests amplified. This is for you, you bastard sadist Sougo. You better appreciate it. With every wound they gave or received, their strength grew. Sougo! We will avenge you! We will not let you die in vain! Toushi and I will make sure of it!
Takasugi and Kamui weaved their way through the writhing bodies and blood, focused on the two figures right at the end of the battlefield. The heart of Shinsengumi. Once they were dead, the victory would be decided.
Kamui aimed a kick at Kondo's head, and Kondo tasted sand in his cut mouth. Disoriented, he looked up to see Takasugi slash a line of red across Hijikata's left arm. The black-haired officer gritted his teeth in pain, flinging his sword up to defend himself from a death blow. 'Toushi!'
'Ah ah ah, Commander,' Kamui held out a hand to Kondo. 'You better worry about yourself first. How can you save him if you can't save yourself?' Kamui grabbed Kondo's hand and helped him to stand up, and then threw him over his shoulder, watching him land again on the ground with a painful crack.
'Give it your best, Samurai-san,' Kamui called.
Kondo spit out a mouthful of blood and stood up, holding his katana with pure fury in his eyes. He rushed forward.
Hijikata parried Takasugi's attack and thrusted at his chest. Takasugi grinned and twisted Hijikata's wrist, throwing him over.
Hijikata somersaulted to land on his feet, narrowing his eyes at the enemy. Takasugi Shinsuke, Yorozuya's old comrade. He charged. As expected. He's strong.
Takasugi smirked. 'Fool. Why work for the Government? What have they ever done for you? The Bakufu?' he turned to avoid Hijikata's straight jab. 'You're just their puppet.'
'This isn't for the damned government,' Hijikata successfully stabbed his katana through Takasugi's swordarm and the enemy dropped his katana. 'This is for Sougo.'
'The First Division Captain?' Takasugi stood and grabbed his katana off the ground, expelling a blow onto Hijikata, who parried and blocked. 'The boy?' he laughed. 'These feelings... They really bring out your worst, don't they?'
Hijikata gave a short groan of pain and his knee buckled to the ground. He hadn't seen Takasugi aim for his leg.
Takasugi brought the hilt of his katana down hard on Hijikata's head. 'It drains your focus, doesn't it?' Takasugi's eye seemed to glow red in Hijikata's fading vision.
'Sougo...' Hijikata's vision blurred. 'I'm sorry, you sadistic bastard.'
Kondo's strength and eyesight was failing him. He knew that a Yato's strength was abnormal, compared to him, but he couldn't afford to give up.
'Are you getting tired?' Kamui's voice sounded innocent, but it was meant to be sarcastic and Kondo knew it. 'Shall we take a rest?'
'And let you finish me off? No,' Kondo scoffed, 'I don't think so.'
Kamui gave a carefree laugh. 'I like your spirit, Commander. Yes, let's continue.'
Kondo slammed his katana down onto Kamui, but it was the last straw for the silver metal and it shattered upon contact with the Yato's fists. Kondo watched, stunned, still gripping the blade-less hilt, when Kamui grabbed his shoulder and kneed him in the stomach.
Kondo felt the contents of his stomach heave up and stain the ground red and wet.
'Too bad your sword lacks the same spirit!' Kamui gave him a small goodbye wave.
Kondo watched, unable to comprehend his defeat. And then the Yato fell forward, with a bullet through his head. Dead.
Behind him stood his saviour. 'Yo! That's why a Gorilla like you doesn't qualify as a Commander!'
Kondo's jaw hung open in disbelief. 'Y...You...?'
Hijikata saw Takasugi bring up his katana, and closed his eyes. This is it.
But when Takasugi's sword came down towards him, so did the man himselfーonto the ground, a silver blade through his chest where his heart was.
Hijikata's eyes flew open, shocked.
'Can't you call me by my name, even when you think I'm dead, you idiot Mayora?'
'So...' Hijikata's eyes widened. 'Sougo?'
'Why, thank you,' the First Division Captain smirked.
'I demand an explanation!' Gintoki was fuming. 'I wasted three months mourning for you two idiots and didn't earn a cent! I need you to compensate me!'
'Come on, Danna...' Sougo raised an eyebrow.
'Yeah, Gin-chan! Don't be a naggy old man!' Kagura bounced Hino on her lap. 'Right, Hino-chan? Was Gin-chan an asshole?'
Hino cocked her head to the side in question.
'Watch what you say to the kid,' snapped Hijikata, smoking a cigarette. 'For goodness' sake. What the hell is this.'
'Gin-san, I agree with you. I want to crack something over their heads.' Shinpachi glared at Sougo and Kagura. 'Well? Explain!'
'It's a long story,' Sougo started.
'Give us the short version!'
'Okay, so after Kondo-san and Hijikata-san saw us sprawled in the dirt, they assumed we were dead without checking and abandoned us. We woke up and then decided to stay under radar letting everyone assume we were dead, so we could defeat Takasugi the next round with them unprepared. Worked, didn't it?'
'HOW DOES THAT EXPLAIN WHY WE WERE NOT INFORMED?' Gintoki's voice overlayed with Hijikata's. 'THAT'S A LOAD OF BULLSHIT!'
'Look, Danna, and Hijikata-san, just be happy we're alive, all right?' Sougo stood up and Kagura followed, carrying Hino. 'If you could excuse us, I'm kind of tired and I want to sleep in my bed right now...'
There was an awkward silence.
'Uhm, Toushi?' Kondo gave a sheepish smile. 'We thought you were dead so we kind of, say, sold your house for Shinsengumi supplies...'
'...and strawberry milk,' Gintoki added, beads if sweat forming on his nervous face.
Kagura put Hino down and cracked her knuckles while Sougo immediately unsheathed his sword, a dark aura forming around them. 'This time, it's not us who are going to die.'
A/N: right. Finale! Officially concludes Phases In Love! LOVE YOU GUYS! If you appreciate me, please review! i hope you understand the pain of uploading through the phone! A happier ending, eh? (:
