Silver Moon – Book 3 Chapter 13

Shinpachi ran out into the street, looking back and forth. It was not long before he spotted Gintoki walking underneath a streetlight not too far away. He immediately took off after the man.

"Gin-san, wait up!"

Gintoki just ignored him, and kept on walking at a steady pace. Shinpachi clenched his teeth as he ran to catch up to him. Once he had, he stood directly in the samurai's path, halting his advance. Gintoki simply stared at the boy.

"Move it, Shinpachi."

Shinpachi didn't listen. He was determined to hold his ground. "Where are you going, Gin-san?"

Gintoki just gave the boy a blank stare. "Where do you think? I already told you; I'm going off to rescue Tsukuyo."

"But right now!?" Shinpachi shouted. "And by yourself!?"

Gintoki continued staring at him for another second before he started to scowl. "Yes, that's exactly right. I'm going to go rescue Tsukuyo, right here and now, and nobody in heaven or hell or this damned earth is going to stop me."

As Shinpachi flinched at his sudden seriousness, Gintoki took the opportunity to brush past him. He then continued his stride. However, Shinpachi quickly regained his composure, and reached out to stop his boss. Grabbing him by the sleeve, Shinpachi halted Gintoki once more.

"Gin-san, stop!" he begged. "This doesn't sound like a good idea!"

Gintoki just turned around and threw him a mild glare. "Do you want me to just let Tsukuyo sit around then, possibly getting tortured or even worse?"

Shinpachi shuddered in fear of that possibility. "Well, no but-"

"But nothing," said Gintoki, walking again. Shinpachi still held on though, and actually ended up being dragged along the ground as he tried to stop the samurai.

"Gin-san, don't be an idiot! This whole situation is probably a trap!"

"Well then I guess I'm an idiot," Gintoki replied simply.

"Mutsu-san didn't think that this was a good idea either!"

"Well she's an idiot too."

"Gin-san!"

Gintoki just closed his eyes before he swept his arm through the air. "That's enough, Shinpachi!"

Shinpachi immediately lost his grip and fell backwards, landing on the ground. He slowly looked up at his boss. "Gin-san…"

"Look," said Gintoki, sounding serious, "I already told you, you're not going to stop me. So just give it up already. My mind is set, and I'm going. So why don't you also go, and just get lost you whiney brat."

Shinpachi just frowned as he watched his boss turn away again. He knew that Gintoki didn't really mean those words. He was just acting tough, like always. Giving a small sigh, Shinpachi rose to his feet.

"So that's the way it's going to be, Gin-san?"

Gintoki didn't respond. He just kept walking away.

"If that's the case," continued Shinpachi, slowly clenching his fists, "then I'm…I'm going to go with you!"

This time, Gintoki completely stopped in his tracks. He then turned around to face his junior employee. He stared at him for a second before smiling and turning away. "Don't make me laugh, Shinpachi. Just get lost already."

"I'm serious!" the boy shouted as he ran to catch up to Gintoki again. "I'm coming with you!"

"Oh really?" asked Gintoki with a smirk. "What about all that other stuff about this being a bad idea and a trap from the enemy?"

Shinpachi started to get a little angry when he heard this. "Don't get me wrong, Gin-san! I know this entire plan is incredibly stupid!"

"Then why are you coming along?" Gintoki inquired.

This time, Shinpachi grinned. "Because you'll need somebody to watch your back, right?"

Gintoki went silent for a second as he eyed the boy. He then looked away. "You know that this will be extremely dangerous right? You may end up losing your life."

Shinpachi frowned. "I know," he admitted. "But, if that's the case, then at least we can both say that we died next to a friend, right?"

Gintoki couldn't help but smile at this. "Hmph, I like the way you think, Shinpachi."

Shinpachi returned the smile. "I can't just leave a friend to go die alone, Gin-san. And I also can't just leave another friend to suffer by themselves."

Gintoki raised an eyebrow at him. "You mean…?"

"I want to save Tsukuyo-san too," he said with confidence. "It's as you said right? She needs a hero to come rescue her."

Gintoki just grinned as he looked away again. "Well, I don't know about a hero, but I'd be willing to guess that she'd accept help from anybody at this point. Even if it comes from a good-for-nothing like me…"

Gintoki then paused before closing his eyes. "But, if that's the way that you feel, then I suppose you might as well tag along. I don't think Tsukuyo would mind getting rescued by two good-for-nothings, would she?"

Shinpachi beamed at this comment. "Not at all."

"Then let's get going. We need to move fast."

"Right."

Both men gave each other a small nod before they began sprinting down the street, heading in the direction of their one of a kind damsel in distress…

Meanwhile, Kagura and Sogo were still stuck alone in the girl's personal prison. Sogo was being completely silent, and staring off to the side. Kagura, on the other hand, was quickly growing irritated with his behavior. While she honestly would have loved for this sadist to leave her alone the entire time he was guarding her, she couldn't help but admit that his odd behavior was starting to get on her nerves.

Why hasn't he said anything yet? Kagura grumbled in her thoughts. This sadist loves tormenting me, and I'm completely at his mercy in here…so why hasn't he made a move yet? This doesn't make any sense. I mean, just look at him, quietly standing over there acting all innocent. It's actually starting to piss me off…

Just then, Sogo turned his head a little bit to stare at the girl. To her surprise, it almost seemed like he had a curious look in his eye.

Kagura immediately went on the defensive. "What the hell are you looking at, bastard?"

Sogo simply remained calm as he answered her. "You're under my watch, China. I have to keep an eye on you." Once he was done, Sogo looked away again.

For some reason, this only made Kagura angrier. "Hey, don't you turn away from me!"

Sogo just rolled his eyes at this. "Do you want me to stare at you or not? Make your choice, China."

His question caught Kagura off guard. "What? I-…Just leave me alone, damn it!"

"Fine," Sogo agreed, turning away again.

Kagura just clenched her teeth as she watched the boy. This guy truly pissed her off to no end. "Just what are you up to, you damn sadist!?"

Sogo gave a sigh. "I thought you just said that you wanted to be left alone…"

"Don't change the subject!" Kagura shouted. "Just answer the question! What are you up to!?"

Sogo crossed his arms as he gave her a blank stare. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about your behavior!" Kagura barked at him. "Why have you been so quiet lately!? You're up to something, aren't you!?"

Sogo was silent for moment before he replied. "What about your behavior?" he asked. "You've been acting strangely too, China."

Kagura also paused for a second. "What do you mean?"

Sogo just gave a sigh. "Well, if you really want to know, I guess the reason I've been rather…quiet recently is because...well, it's because I'm confused about your actions, China."

Kagura looked completely lost. "Huh?"

"You haven't been acting like your usual self," Sogo explained. "I mean, you've always been an annoying pest full of rage, but this…this is something different…"

Kagura just stared at him in silence. Despite his insults, she was curious to discover just what exactly he was trying to explain to her.

"I guess I just don't understand," Sogo continued quietly. "The China I know is a rude, arrogant, disgusting, and unpleasant hell of a girl. But, throughout all the time I've known her, I would never have expected her to attack somebody that she would refer to as a friend. Despite all of her shortcomings, she still had standards…or so I thought until now…Who knows? Maybe she's actually just insane, as I predicted…"

Kagura frowned while she gave him a weird look. She would never have expected that sadist to say something like this. It felt weird hearing him talk about her in a way that made her sound like an actually halfway-decent human being. Nevertheless, the things he said still bothered her, although in a way that she didn't quite expect.

Shaking his head, Sogo stared at the girl again. "I don't know," he said. "You're just not acting like your usual self China, and it's throwing me off a little bit…"

"I see," said Kagura sadly as she looked away. "Well, I don't really understand it either," she admitted. "But I do want to make up for it though."

Sogo simply raised an eyebrow at this. He remained silent.

"I can't believe I'm actually saying this to you," Kagura mumbled as she rolled her eyes, "but, please, release me from this place. Tsukky is in danger, and I feel like I can help her. But I can't do that if I'm locked up in this room. Please, let me go, so I can go and save Tsukky…"

Sogo just stared at the Yato that was still chained to the wall. The sadist part of him immediately wanted to shut down her request with a malicious smile, but another part of him was speaking out against the idea, almost in her defense. Perhaps he actually sensed some truth behind the girl's words?

"You say that you want me to release you," he said quietly, "but, after everything you've done, how can I possibly trust you?"

Kagura paused for a second. Just as Hijikata had asked her to prove herself earlier, Sogo was now asking her to do the same. She had to find a way to prove to this sadist that she could be trusted. But how? How could this insane psychopath possibly convince he sadistic captor to set her free?

Kagura sighed. I guess I'll just be honest with him…

"Tsukky…is somebody very important to me," she said slowly. "And not only me, but she's very important to Gin-chan as well. In fact, I don't think he would ever admit it, but she probably means the world to him. He'd be lost without her, and so would I, honestly…"

Kagura then produced a small frown. "I have no idea why I attacked her like that. The whole thing is a mystery to me too. I'll admit that I was feeling a little angry with Tsukky at the time, but that would never change the way that I truly feel about her…"

Kagura paused as she glanced downward with a small smile. "Tsukky has been a good friend to me. And there have been times where I've even thought of her as more than that. As a matter of fact, sometimes, I almost think of her as a…a sister to me…"

Sogo immediately froze when he heard that word. "A sister?" he murmured.

Kagura just looked at him with a frown as her eyes started to water a little. "Yeah, so what? Are you going to make fun of me for saying that, or something?"

"Shut up," Sogo told her bluntly.

Kagura just glared at him before giving a sigh. "Look, I don't know why I lost my cool and attacked Tsukky like that last night, but I really do want to make it up to her, and tell her that I'm sorry. I feel awful right now, but I know that I would feel a hundred times worse if I ever found out that something happened to her because of the injuries I gave her…"

Kagura paused once more before looking the boy straight in the eye. "I know it might not mean much to a sadist like you, but…I'm asking this as a favor. Please, let me go save her…"

Sogo simply remained silent after Kagura finished. He took a moment to stare at her, his eyes full of an unusual curiosity. After doing a little thinking, he softly spoke up.

"This woman…does she really mean that much to you?"

Kagura paused for a second before giving a small nod. "Of course; I meant every word."

Sogo went silent again as he looked away. Hmm…so she wants to go and save her sister figure, huh? Damn this China, making things way more complicated than they need to be. I'm supposed to be keeping this maniac locked up in here, but now she's trying to convince me to release her. And I can't believe it, but it's almost working…

Sogo stopped thinking for a second as his eyes glazed over. What would you do in this situation, Sis?

Shaking his head, the young officer came back to his senses. He then placed a hand over his face. "I understand how you feel," he said quietly.

"What?" asked Kagura, sounding surprised. "You do!?"

Sogo gave a tiny nod before looking at the floor. "There have also been people in my life that I've wanted to protect, but I…"

Sogo suddenly cut himself off with another shake of his head. "Never mind," he mumbled.

Kagura just stared at him, completely lost. What's up with him?

Slowly looking back up at the girl, Sogo frowned. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but…I am willing to set you free."

Upon hearing this, Kagura's eyes widened. "What!? Seriously!?"

"That's right," said Sogo, still frowning. "However, I have some conditions that you must accept if you want me to go through with this."

Seeing her chance for freedom, Kagura quickly responded. "What are they?"

"First off, you must remain under my supervision at all times. I'm in charge of keeping an eye on you after all, so if you go off somewhere, I have no choice but to accompany you."

Kagura lightly clenched her teeth at this. She didn't really want the sadist tagging along with her, but she knew that she was in no position to be making demands. Who knows? she wondered. Maybe he could actually be of some use to me…

"Fine," she agreed. "What else?"

"Second, I still consider you a danger to that woman, and everyone else around you for that matter. If for even a single second I feel like you're going to go on a killing spree, I will immediately cut you down without question."

Kagura gulped a little at this, but still managed to give a nod. "I understand," she said. "Anything else?"

"Hmm," said Sogo, thinking hard. "You'll also have to crawl on all fours and carry me on your back wherever we go."

"HELL NO!" Kagura screamed. "What kind of stupid condition is that!?"

Sogo grinned at her behavior. "What's the matter? Don't you want to be freed?"

"Not if it involves being your stupid puppet," said Kagura distastefully.

Sogo lightly chuckled at his own sadism. He really amused himself sometimes. "Fine, just the first two conditions then."

"Hmph," Kagura pouted. "That's fine by me."

"Very well," said Sogo. Withdrawing from his spot against the wall, the boy produced a key and walked up to one of the metal spheres that was binding Kagura's limbs to the wall. He carefully inserted the key into a thin slit on one of the spheres and turned it. The sphere made a clicking sound and loosened its grip on Kagura's arm. The girl quickly withdrew it with ease.

"Ugh, feels stiff," she said, moving it around a little bit.

Sogo then went to hand her the key. "Here, I assume that you can finish unlocking the rest of your shackles."

Kagura slowly took the key from him. "And where are you going?"

"I'm going to find out where exactly we're heading," he informed her. "Unless you already thought ahead and know where Takasugi is keeping your friend."

Kagura felt a sweat drop slide down her forehead. "Er, good point…"

"Kondo-san should have reported his coordinates by now, so we'll just head there," Sogo explained as he went to leave the room. "Wait here, and I'll be back soon. After that, we can sneak out of this place, and start going after your friend."

"Sounds good," said Kagura as she went to free her other arm. "You know, you're not half-bad for a sadist."

"Oh really?" asked Sogo with a grin. "Well you're still the worst, China."

Sogo then gently closed the door behind him just as Kagura began screaming a number of curses at him…

"Have we finished landing?"

"Yes sir, and it seems that the Shinsengumi that were tailing us have already started gathering around the ship."

Takasugi merely grinned at the news. "Hmph, like moths drawn to a flame."

"Should we take any precautions against them, sir?" asked one of his men.

Takasugi slowly closed his eye as he brought his kiseru to his lips. "No, don't bother. We're not here to deal with them anyways."

"What if they try to make a move?" asked Takechi, who was standing nearby.

Takasugi paused as he blew some smoke into the air. "In that case, remind them that we have a hostage on board, and that we're not afraid to kill her. That should be enough to make them back off for now."

"Why are we here anyways?" asked Kamui, who was also in the control room and sounding bored.

Takechi just raised an eyebrow at him. "Why are you here, Kamui-dono?"

Kamui took a seat in a nearby chair before leaning forward and resting his head in his hands. "I don't know, I thought you guys were going off to do something exciting."

"We just came to the control room to check if the ship had finished landing," Takechi explained. "That's it."

"Really?" asked Kamui, frowning. "Well why didn't you tell me that before I followed you over here?"

"We did," said Takasugi bluntly.

"Oh…"

Takasugi simply smiled at the boy's ignorance. "Don't worry, Kamui. I know that you've been patiently waiting for some excitement, and I promise you'll get it soon. We just need to wait a little bit longer."

"Hmph," Kamui grunted as he shifted his head so that it was supported by only one hand. "Care to explain why we've landed in another forest clearing then? And this time we're surrounded by those policemen no less…"

Takasugi slowly inhaled and exhaled from his pipe. "Relax," he told the Yato. "We're just making a quick stop. Once our special guest arrives, then we'll be able to take off again."

"Our special guest?" repeated Kamui. The boy thought about the situation for a second before the realization came to him. "Ah, now I see…"

Takasugi simply grinned once more as he turned to one of the men in the control room. "Is the 'secret entrance' open for our guest?"

"Yes sir!" said the man. "It's ready to go!"

"Excellent," said Takasugi with a smirk. He then glanced at a monitor that sat overhead and watched as the Shinsengumi officers began to gather at the edge of the forest clearing. Takasugi simply continued grinning, not paying them any mind. His thoughts were already preoccupied with something else.

The ball is in your court now, Gintoki…

Hi there! So, we're like one follower away from hitting 100…so I might as well have an early celebration! Woo! 20 months of writing, and 47 chapters later, and finally we hit 100 followers! Well, almost anyways XD But yeah, I'll inevitably get that one follower I need to take us to 100. I mean, it's not like it'll stay at 99 forever, right? It's gotta go up by at least one more. I mean, come on, I'd look like a complete idiot if it didn't hit 100! It'd be really embarrassing! But I need to calm down. There's no way that'll happen. Yeah, no way…

Anyways, thank you all so much for following, favoriting, and reviewing! The numbers are already way higher than I could have ever hoped for them to be, so thank you all so much for supporting my story. Which reminds me…I need to check where my story is placed in the Gintama Fanfiction rankings sometime! Maybe I'll do that for Chapter 50 ;) Although, one thing that I didn't notice about last time was that I accidently forgot to include M-rated stories in the rankings when I checked where mine stood! (Whoops!) So yeah, I'll have to fix that this time around. And of course, that means that my story actually ranked lower than I thought it did! How depressing -.-'

Although honestly, I really don't care that much! XD Anyways, let's just get on with my top ten favorite Gintama characters!

Number 7: Imai Nobume

Finally, a female character! XD In fact, Nobume easily fits right into my top 3 favorite female Gintama characters (the other two probably aren't hard to figure out) for many reasons, almost too many to list! Still, I like to keep this segment kind of brief, so let's just cover what I like. First off, Nobume is a total female badass, and I love that. I think that female characters need to be strong and self-dependent, and Nobume definitely represents that. Whether it comes to merciless killing, or playing kick the can, she can get the job done. By the way, speaking of kick the can, did I mention that Nobume actually has a heart? In reality, she's kind of a sweet girl, who just rarely shows her feelings (probably because she's too busy killing people XD). She genuinely cares for the people around her, especially Isaburo. She apparently even goes out of her way to reply to his texts, which is good for the guy XD Anyways, all this aside, Nobume is calm, cool, and serious, while at the same time being sweet, caring, and even a little bit playful. She's definitely a complex character, and I like that :) Also, I've always loved the way that she carries her sword. She's almost always holding it by the sheath in her hand, as if she's ready to draw it at any given moment. It's a simple characteristic, but I really like it! It just looks so cool! And of course, there's her past too. Nobume has clearly been through a lot. In the Farewell Shinsengumi Opening, do you see the way that she stares at that baby? All I can think is: Daaammmnnn…

And, above all else, Nobume is pretty cute, don't you think? ;)

Anyways, I think I've rambled on for way too long! This chapter is over! Please feel free to leave a review for it! Next chapter, we'll probably get to see some action :D Until then, goodbye!