Gintoki: Now that I think about it, was it really just a coincidence that the plot of Gintama ended up great despite how some of the details were written out of whim? Or did that gorilla writer truly had everything planned out from the very start?
Well, I guess the answer to all that may never be completely known to us. In the meantime, let's get back to the story.
Chapter 9: It's hard to have to let go of the people dear to you but as long as we're still alive we'll always be able to see each other again afterwards... or something since I can't figure out what to name this chapter
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"Toshi... did either him or I really have to die? Was there no other way?"
"Instead of just black or white, couldn't I have worked with him to bring out a different colour?"
He thought that he'd at least try to check on Kondou for a moment but then changed his mind.
Gintoki took out the second cellphone that Sasaki Isaburou had given him prior; after he'd thrown away the first one that the man has given him. He rarely even used the phone to contact anyone else and now the person who always texted him through this phone will no longer...
He stepped out to the ship's deck to find Katsura standing by himself nearby. Gintoki made a face at his friend.
"I thought you said you wanted to see that Imai girl..."
Katsura just shrugged at him before nodding his head off towards his right. Gintoki followed his gaze as he saw Imai Nobume standing by herself on the front deck facing the bow. Has she been standing there all by herself, all this while? He tried to recall the events of the other night as they were about to make their escape from the Tendoshuu's ships. Imai... had been so devastated as they could only watch helplessly while Sasaki Isaburou fell down into the dark void.
He glanced up as the sky began to lighten up.
Looking at Imai right now, he couldn't help thinking about the day he had to kill Shouyou to save his friends... more than a decade ago. While the circumstances had been different, Sasaki—like Shouyou—had sacrificed his life to protect the people he loved. And for Imai, to be able to survive thanks to that man's sacrifice... the sorrow that she was feeling at this moment, must be so unbearable right now.
Like how he felt back then, after having to part ways with Shouyou in the worst way possible.
"I have faced so many defeats in battle in the past and escaped with my life. But this defeat had truly left a bitter taste in my mouth."
Gintoki turned his glance towards Katsura as he snorted at him.
"Why? Aren't you glad to still be able to survive? Or did you start becoming fond of that Sasaki guy now?"
Katsura scoffed at him. "What nonsense are you talking about now?" he snapped before glancing back towards Imai. "It's just... I can't help being reminded about that day. It was the same as right now, the defeat we were forced to face back then. After that, all three of us ended up heading towards different paths."
Gintoki turned his head back towards the same direction, as now he could see Sasaki's little brother walking up towards Imai.
"It'll be fine. We'll all be fine, we'll get over this defeat and get back on our feet in no time. You, me, us... them. We'll get over this."
Gintoki let out a long sigh as all of the Shinsengumi and Mimawarigumi members from the ship they're on; as well as the ones on the other neighbouring ships, started to gather on the top deck. Tae, Shinpachi and Kagura also decided to come out to join them.
"The enemy... was really strong this time as well. But those guys, as we did ever since then, should be able to overcome this obstacle and get back on their feet. They'll get stronger, I'm sure of that. As we will too. This defeat shouldn't last too long."
He smiled weakly. "One day... we will win for sure. So that all of the sacrifices that were made so far wouldn't be in vain. It's the only thing left we could do now in order to not disappoint the people that we've lost."
Katsura nodded to himself. "Yeah..."
.
As they looked on, Imai Nobume started taking out something from her jacket as she seemed to be doing something that they could not see. But then she raised her head up and threw out something that she has been holding. It was too far for him to see clearly but from the way the light was reflected from the object she was throwing, he assumed that it must be her cellphone. The same type as the one Sasaki had given him.
Kondo immediately raised his hand in a salute.
"Pay your respects to the Commissioner-General!"
Kondo's voice boomed as everyone—regardless of whether they're in black or white uniforms—raised their arms in silent salute.
xxx
Months have passed since then... and so many things had happened. As the remaining members of the Mimawarigumi and Shinsengumi went into hiding alongside Katsura's men to recuperate and heal themselves, the city of Edo also started facing a drastic change. It was inevitable, he supposed, considering that it involved two of the major police organizations that had been supporting the government. Obviously, such a revolt would've shaken the Shogunate to its core, especially when only recently the new shogun had taken over the administration.
Even when he had been directly involved with the many chains of events that led to this predicament, it still felt surreal.
Gintoki had never really been interested in politics, even back when he was younger—yet ironically, he's been involved in many incidents that directly affected the nation. Looking back, it seemed so unbelievable that a nobody like him has managed to achieve so much without actually intending it. Honestly, unlike Zura or Takasugi... he wasn't really such an impressive character. Even though he was the main character of Gintama, compared to other main characters from other series... he was still lacking so much. Aside from his ability to fight, of course. Like seriously, have you seen any other main characters who were so unmotivated and unimpressive like him? Unless there was some battle that he needed to win at all costs, he was just an overgrown bum who could barely keep himself—his two charges and a big dog—well fed at the end of the day.
It was surreal... everything around him, really. Like how much has he changed from the first chapter and episode of Gintama until now? As of right now, he was no longer just a simple bum who lazed about mindlessly on the streets of Kabuki-cho... while reading the usual Jump magazine that he always kept up with.
Suppose there was no way for him to get his hands off everything after all that has happened. With the Shinsengumi and Mimawarigumi gone from the streets of Edo, someone needed to step up to take over the empty spot that remained.
So that there would still be someone who will watch over the people of Edo while those people were away...
xxx
"I'll gladly take the booze, but I don't recall ever doing you a favour."
"Oh, you did. Your faulty brain may have forgotten, but I remember. "I'll never forget."
"Even if I did, you repaid me a long time ago. I'm the one who got help recovering something he'd forgotten."
Hijikata turned his head towards Gintoki, who was also about to leave the shop. He smiled weakly.
"I guess, there are still a lot of things about you that I didn't know... huh? Even someone like you must have some kind of a painful past, that shaped the kind of person you are right now. I wish that I could get to know more about you than I already did."
Gintoki raised his eyebrows at him. "Ara, what's with this sudden change of tune? Are you already starting to miss me? What's with that kinda strange talk? As if we wouldn't see each other again after this."
Hijikata just shrugged at him. As Gintoki continued to stare at him, he sighed.
"The things you've said to me before... about the things you wanted to protect. Something similar has happened to you in the past, hasn't it? I heard about what happened to your master."
Gintoki frowned at him. "Where did you hear that from? Did Zura told you about it?"
Hijikata nodded.
Gintoki started scratching the back of his head in response. "Damn it, Zura! As usual, that guy really likes to run his mouth around unnecessarily..."
A smirk appeared on Hijikata's face as Gintoki had a sudden urge to want to punch it off that smug face.
"So what was that forgotten thing that you said you've recovered?"
Gintoki chuckled. "As if I'd tell you what it was..."
xxx
"I'm back..." he drawled softly as Gintoki placed his umbrella at the corner of the entrance.
"Welcome back!" came the unexpected reply as Otae's voice greeted him instead of her brother. He let out a sigh after looking at her.
"So... you're here, huh?"
Otae slowly nodded to him as she smiled apologetically. "I couldn't inconvenience Kozenigata-san any longer than necessary, it didn't feel right to me. So I decided to return here."
He just shook his head.
"Hey... Shinpachi? Are you still here?" Gintoki hollered loudly as said glasses boy poked his head from the kitchen.
"Yes, Gin-san?"
"Has Kagura-chan come back yet?"
Shinpachi just shrugged at him before shaking his head.
"Not yet. She told me that she was going to see for someone earlier."
Gintoki nodded his head in acknowledgement. Just as he had gone out to check on Hijikata, Kagura must've wanted to see that Okita kid first before they leave.
Because seriously, how could they let those guys leave without saying anything to them?
Gintoki started scratching his head again.
"Well, tell her when she gets back that I'm heading off to Zura's place later. It's up to her if she wants to join me or stay here instead..."
"You're leaving?"
Gintoki turned his eyes towards her as he shrugged. "Since you're already here, there's no way that I can stay at this place any longer. While the higher-ups might've already forgotten about the less important stuff, I'm still a wanted man. It'll be too dangerous for you if I continue to lay low over here."
Otae clenched her fist before hurriedly grabbing the sleeve of Gintoki's Kimono as he was about to turn and leave.
"Can't you stay here a bit longer? You only just came back, you can't just walk out again! At least have some tea before you go out."
Gintoki cast a brief glance at the room she came out from and spotted a tray with a teapot and some cups lying at the corner of the veranda.
"It looked like you already had some before I came. Shouldn't you have had enough tea already?"
Otae smiled at him weakly. "Well, there's no harm in brewing some more..."
Gintoki cast a long look at Otae's direction before sighing again. Guess she wouldn't let him leave this place without having her say first.
xxx
Tae sneaked a glance to her side as Gintoki remained quiet by himself. Was he angry? She was aware that the reason he made her stay with Kozenigata-san during the past few months was that he wanted to keep her safe from harm. But she came back now, without informing him first... fully aware that she might as well endanger herself once again by going back to her home.
"Are you... mad at me?"
Silence. And then she heard the sound of his breathing as Tae slowly let go of the breath she held.
"Why should I? This is your home, of course you can go back here whenever you want."
Tae cast him another glance again. He seemed fine now, though Gintoki wasn't the kind of person who would let his emotions show on his face. Even if he would show some expressions, no one could really tell if those were truly what he felt or if he was faking it. Because Gin-san could hide his real emotions so well.
She thought back about the time when both of them were in that lower deck cabin of the Mimawarigumi ship. The Gin-san from that night had looked so vulnerable to her. So much, that she couldn't afford to act too mean to him like she usually did.
Back then, she told him that she would wait for him. If there was something that was burdening his heart and he couldn't tell anyone about it, she told him that she could try lending an ear to him and share the burden with him. If it was hard for him to open up to her, she told him that she would wait until he could find the courage to bare everything to her.
She said all that to him for sure back then... though she wondered Gin-san actually listened to all of it. And even if he did, would Gintoki even want to let her share the burden inside of his heart. After all, it wasn't as if the two of them were actually THAT close. Why would Gin-san want to share his burden with her—heck, she didn't even know what Gin-san truly thinks about her.
Tae let out a small huff.
Why did she even have to worry about this natural permed idiot? As if the idiot would even appreciate her worrying so much about him.
"Did that gorilla come over to visit you today?"
She turned her attention towards Gintoki again as the man kept staring elsewhere. Tae shrugged.
"Yes, he did. You'd think he'd start acting more matured to match his age but again he's sneaking around like some abandoned trash someone forgot to throw away."
Gintoki started to laugh. "Heh... but I suppose that guy has been behaving well today, seeing that this place was still intact. Then again, that wouldn't have been a good way to say your goodbyes."
"So what have you been doing today, Gin-san?" Tae asked as Gintoki shrugged.
"It's been raining all day, would there be anything much for me to do? Ah, but I did send off a certain mayora-maniac earlier, so it wasn't really a complete waste of time."
Tae smiled at him weakly.
"I guess that means Hijikata-san was in good health. Then, how about you? You didn't even come to visit Kozenigata-san ever since you left me there and I haven't seen you for the past few months, so have you been doing well?"
Gintoki let out a soft chortle before running his hand over his hair. "Aside from having my name back on the Shogunate's wanted list, how 'well' would you expect me to be? Anyway, you could have asked that brother of yours about me if you were really that concerned. Since Shinpachi had been checking on you on a periodical basis."
Tae gave a long sigh.
"I'm doing fine... anyway."
She bit her lips. Well, that's a far as she would ever get. Since it would've been rude for her to try to press him further. Has he been eating well? Has he resolved the things that had troubled him back then? Have his injuries healed completely? He didn't get himself hurt even more, did he? But suppose, she could only just take a wild guess.
As she thought, Gin-san wouldn't have wanted to share his burden with her. He wouldn't—!
"Ne, I suppose that you've never gone out of Edo when you're younger..."
?!
Gintoki raised his head as he cast a faraway glance at the night sky.
"...so you probably wouldn't have heard of the rumour of a corpse-eating oni."