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For the past few days, the Shinsengumi Headquarters is filled with countless missions, never-ending reports, and pure exhaustion that anyone within a 1-meter radius would feel tired for some reason as if all these works have brought upon them negative energy.
"These Joui rebels are different from Katsura's, you say?" Hijikata poured some mayonnaise unto the katsudon.
"If a single faction like that gets us this busy, then you're not doing a good job, Hijikata-san." Sougo chided. "Give your position to me already, you bastard."
"You look as tired as I am, you brat. Stop eating that candy and sleep. Eternally."
From the other side of the small table sat Yamazaki with documents and handwritten data in his hands. When his superiors' usual skit ended did he responded. "Yes, Vice Chief. Although they're different, they are on par in terms of strength and the number of men in their groups. From what we have gathered on their previous fights, they are keen on using any weapon and have shown no hesitation towards their goal: to bring down the government and erase all amantos."
"Ho, seems like some rebels who won't back away easily. And? What are they called? I suppose we haven't met their leader yet."
"Their faction's name is Kinishinai, a recently formed group of some random thugs and homeless men. Their leader is Ryuunosuke Sora, an ex-con. He sold drugs and made trades in the black market. As for his appearance, um..." Yamazaki flipped some pages before closing the folder. "The only prominent thing about him is he wears Chinese clothing and eats a lot of sour things."
Sougo chuckled. "Sounds a lot like someone I know. Shall we ambush them at the snacks bar, Hijikata-san?"
At his remark, Hijikata couldn't help but throw the empty container of mayonnaise at his comrade. Sougo casually evaded it using the back of his hand, making it fly to Yamazaki's face.
"Any news about their current missions or movements somewhere?"
Yamazaki frowned at the container before responding. "Yes, it seems like they're meeting with an amanto dealer tonight at-" Yamazaki paused. "At the Snacks Otose bar, if I remember correctly."
Hijikata smirked, already clutching his sword beside him. Meanwhile, Sougo got up in no time and was out before both of them can retort on his sudden excitement. "Yamazaki, tell the first division to have a meeting immediately. We're making some serious preparations for tonight."
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As always, the Snacks Otose bar is full of perverts, drunkards, homeless men, and hungry idiots. What did Terada Ayano do to ever deserve this, anyone who knows her would think that. But the thing is, she had nothing so she did everything and to be blessed with this kind of unique but moronic lively atmosphere is like a gem in disguise for her.
But there are times that her treasured place becomes a murky den of evil. She knows, for she has lived long enough to write a hundred of citizen's biography and has heard more than enough to know how to differentiate the apples from the rotten ones as well as the wormed ones.
Catherine soundlessly gave her a pack of cigarettes. She checked and five cigarettes were turned. Catherine's ear perked up and slowly pointed at one corner. Two wore capes, another pair wore masks and an odd one is in Chinese clothing. On their table are two large suitcases and a brown packet.
Just when Otose sighed, there was a sound of a scooter and pounding of the ground.
Shinpachi begrudgingly slid the shoji doors open with his foot, struggling to make it inside with Gintoki slumped on his shoulders. Followed soon after is Sadaharu who looked as tired as his owner who's collapsed at his back.
"Hard day?" Otose prepared three drinks and a bowl of water for the critter.
After guiding Gintoki on a seat at the counter, Shinpachi could only give a slight nod before he too sits and rested his head on the counter.
Kagura barely moved. "Granny, I'm starving, yes."
As if on cue, all four stomachs grumbled at once.
"I keep telling you this is not a restaurant." Otose was preparing some snacks when Catherine gave another signal. Catherine clapped her hands together and moved them like a wave, making it look like a fish.
They're leaving.
The two amantos left first, carrying the suitcases. The other three shortly came after, laughing to their own. The Chinese clothed man held the brown packet inside his cape, holding a snack on the other hand.
Kagura couldn't help it.
When the trio is right behind them, she abruptly got up and snatched the snack, accidentally hitting on the packet too. Before they could react, an explosion can be heard outside.
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When the doors opened, the first division immediately moved. It's not until Yamazaki confirmed that the suitcases were secured did they deemed it a success. Hijikata gave a firm nod.
A few moments later, the troop faced the two caped figures. Kondou gave them a thumbs up before putting his hood on, along with Yamazaki who carried the suitcases, they set off to catch their main target and went out of the dark alley.
Hijikata looked at Sougo, jadedly poking the other two amantos at the back. Tied up elaborately and only in their underwear, the unconscious amantos didn't prove to be much of a fight.
Well, they're only dealers. That's expected.
It's strange though. It's as if they deliberately let them take over because they didn't care what will happen to their expensive trade. Suspicious."Sougo, just go already." The brat stopped his little torture and scrutinized the bastard beside him. "I'm permitting you, so go."
"These pipsqueaks are not worth it, Hijibaka." He waved a nonchalant hand.
HHijikata blew a smoke. "The suitcases were probably a dupe. We can still catch the other party, though."
It took a couple of minutes before Sougo begrudgingly got up. They suspected them of being a Yato. Naturally, they would rely on their best swordsman with his equally great troop.
It was not until the doors of the bar is wrecked by a true Yato that they remembered who exactly they should be afraid. off
Or fighting, Sougo thinks when Kagura bites Ryuuno Shitwhatever's hand. So much for building his character.
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Gintoki thinks he's half asleep when the whole place shakes and Otose puts a bowl of rice with sweet beans on it next to his perm head. When he looks up, Catherine was at it with her fake accent again, kicking some guy with an obscene expression on her face.
"What'ya think ya doing, huh?! Give me yer money before you harm anyone here!"
Gintoki scratched his head, another earthquake ensuing. "Oi, stop that Catherine. You're the only one who can harm anyone here. Your face is enough to scare anyone here. Go outside and scare the earthquake away instead of bothering anyone here."
Catherine spits on the unmasked face of the man. "Tch, no need for that. The alien girl is just erasing this goon's leader." She harrumphed when the man gave his final groan after she sits on him.
"I have to admit," Otose started, bringing him a cup and a drink. "If it weren't for the brats you brought in, and those who you always bantered with, then this place would be in a different level of hell." She points outside, past the jarred doors and towards the idiots in front of the bar.
Kondou stood naked under the flying cape, coolly throwing the suitcases to the bosses of the Amantos while Yamazaki rummages the other one. Shinpachi swiftly evades the masked man that was hit on and decides he's too hungry to deal with this so he borrows Yamazaki's racket to ram it through the masked man's head single-handedly. While all of this was happening, Sadaharu went to a certain alley and peed on a lump of garbage. Hijikata could only stare at the unconscious amantos, now wet and grimy. On the other hand, a young lad in a changshan is getting beat up by a sadistic pair. They'll either team up to give the poor man a fearful strike or they'll make it a challenge on who can make the bloody fellow admit his crimes.
"Not giving his food to you is not considered a crime! it's his right!"
"Taking away your peaceful days is not his crime, too! It's your work!"
With a sidelong glance, Gintoki proceeded to eat his long-awaited meal while Otose pours him his drink. "Aren't you gonna stop them?"
"Nah," When he finished his meal, he cradled his head on his hand, watching them through his dead-fish eyes as they scold each other, cuffing the criminals the Odd Jobs was requested to look for. "It's fine like this."
Just another day to witness in their world.