Silver Moon – Book 3 Chapter 23

Late in the day, three ships landed in a clearing in the middle of a forest near Edo. As they descended, several people began to congregate in the clearing. Many of them were wounded, and the small amount of people that had medical knowledge ran around in an attempt to help treat them.

As it turns out, these men belonged to what remained of the Kiheitai and Harusame.

Takasugi let out a puff of smoke as he stared at what was left of his forces. He frowned while he scratched the bandages on his chest. He then turned to Bansai, who sat beside him.

"So, this is what remains?"

"I'm afraid so," Bansai replied. "Naturally, when our ship was blasted apart, we suffered heavy casualties. Fortunately though, many of our men were able to make a get-away through our escape pods."

"Yes, it really is fortunate," Kamui suddenly chimed in from behind them. "It's a good thing I told them to find and pick up your unconscious bodies too. Otherwise, Abuto and the rest of you would have all went down with the ship. Oh, and of course, I went and saved you myself, Shinsuke."

"Hmph," grunted Takasugi with a smirk. "I'm grateful," he said in a somewhat sarcastic tone.

"You're welcome," the Yato replied happily.

Takasugi then took a moment to inhale from his kiseru again. He slowly let the smoke escape between his lips. "It would seem I've underestimated Gintoki again. My grand plan went up in smoke, just like always. Damn him…"

Takasugi then rose to his feet, and slowly began walking towards the nearest ship. "Gather up the rest of the men and get them to board," he instructed. "We're leaving Earth."

Takasugi grinned. For now…

Kagura suddenly opened her eyes, and darted up into a sitting position. She whipped her head back and forth, trying to take in her surroundings. However, she was still in a daze, and didn't really take note of anything. She then held her head for a second.

"Uh…Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital," came a voice from beside her.

Her vision finally clearing, Kagura looked to her left and found Tsukuyo sitting in a hospital bed. She stared at her for a moment, before looking out the window to her right. The sky was orange, a clear indication that it was late in the day.

"How long have I been asleep?" the girl asked.

"Almost the whole day," Tsukuyo replied.

Kagura remembered back to that morning, and all the fighting that she had been through. She then looked down at herself. She had a couple small bandages covering the cuts and bruises she had received.

"You fainted earlier," Tsukuyo clarified for her. "Gintoki thought it would be best to bring you here along with everyone else. Don't worry though, the doctor said you'd make a fast recovery, considering you're a Yato and all."

Kagura tried to take all of this in as she stared at Tsukuyo. "There are others in the hospital?" she asked.

"Yes, everyone that fought and earned themselves an injury came here to heal up. Well, everyone except for Katsura and Elizabeth. They ran off after finding out that the Shinsengumi are patrolling around here."

Tsukuyo paused for a second. "Anyways, the doctors said that everyone's injuries should heal up within the next few weeks. Myself included."

Kagura continued to stare at Tsukuyo, and the bandages that covered her from the neck down. Silence fell between them as Kagura once again recalled the horrible fact that she was partially responsible for the courtesan's condition. Kagura could feel some tears start to well up in her eyes.

"Tsukky," she said softly, "I'm so sorry…"

Tsukuyo stared at the girl, surprised. "What for?"

"F-for attacking you like that. I never meant to hurt you-"

"Oh, Kagura, stop," said Tsukuyo quickly. "It's not your fault, remember? Takasugi put a drug in you that made you act that way."

"I know," said Kagura, "but it's still my fault…"

Tsukuyo sadly stared at her. "Kagura…"

"No, listen," Kagura continued, "if I hadn't been so upset with you, the drug would have never been a problem. It's because of the way I acted that things turned out like this. I was selfish. I just didn't want everything in my life to change because of the wedding. But now…"

Kagura paused for a moment. "But now, I don't care anymore. I'd rather grow up and accept all of the change that comes with this wedding than have to go on without you."

Kagura then stared at Tsukuyo, with a couple tears in her eyes. "Tsukky, will you forgive me?"

Tsukuyo could feel some tears of her own welling up as she stared back at the girl. "Of course I will," she replied. "But Kagura, you're not the only one who has apologizing to do."

Kagura looked confused. "Huh?"

"I'm sorry," said Tsukuyo, "for not believing in you. I should have known better when you attacked me, that it wasn't the real Kagura I was fighting. I'm sorry for acting coldly towards you when it wasn't your fault. And I'm sorry if you've been feeling ignored because of all of these upcoming changes…"

Tsukuyo then smiled at the girl. "So, I now ask you the same question. Kagura, will you forgive me?"

Kagura sniffed a little as a couple tears fell down her cheeks. "Of course I will!"

"I'm glad to hear it," Tsukuyo replied.

Kagura smiled back at her for a moment before she went ahead and wiped away her tears. She then looked at the ground. "Tsukky, you know, ever since I began living with Gin-chan, I've always kind of felt like…like he's been an older brother to me. And so, now that you guys are getting married, I wonder if, well…"

Tsukuyo stared at the girl, before smiling at her. "I think I know what you're trying to say," she said. "Kagura, from this point on, we'll be sisters, okay?"

Kagura looked back up and nodded with a sheepish smile. "I think I'd like that a lot…"

Tsukuyo's smile turned into a grin. "And as sisters, I'll be trusting you to do a favor for me."

Kagura looked curious. "What's that?"

"Well, we both know that Gintoki is an idiot, right?"

Kagura nodded. "Right."

"Listen, I'll keep an eye on Gintoki at home, and you keep an eye on him when he's out doing Odd Jobs business. That way, Gintoki will always have someone there to look out for him when he's being stupid. How does that sound?"

Kagura laughed a little, and then smiled. "Perfect."

Tsukuyo also started laughing, when suddenly there was a knock on the door. The two girls looked over just as the door opened, and Gintoki poked his head inside. "Am I interrupting?" he asked.

"No, come on in," Tsukuyo invited him.

Gintoki went ahead and entered the room, revealing that he too was also in a hospital gown and covered in bandages. He didn't seem to be in pain though, and he calmly approached Kagura's bed.

"I hope it's not too late for an apology," he said quietly.

"Forget it," said Kagura, quickly waving her hands back and forth. "Tsukky and I, we already covered it." Kagura then looked over to Tsukuyo, and the courtesan gave her a wink.

Gintoki seemed surprised by this. He turned to Tsukuyo for a second, before facing the girl again. "So…are you okay with this?" he asked slowly. "I mean, if you're still unhappy, we can-"

"Nah, forget it," said Kagura with an air of superiority. "I'm content just keeping an eye on an idiot like you."

Gintoki felt very confused. "What are you talking about?"

Kagura snickered. "Eh, nothing."

"Did you hit your head on that ship or something?"

"What!? Of course not!" Kagura shouted. "What are you trying to say, bastard!? Do you think I've gone crazy or something!?"

Gintoki just smiled at her behavior before placing a hand on her head. "Heheh, it's nice to know that we've got the old Kagura back."

Kagura just stared at his hand before frowning and looking away. "Hmph."

Gintoki then removed his hand and started to walk away. As he did, he soon stopped and stared back at the girl. "Oh, by the way, I just remembered I was supposed to give you a message."

Kagura raised an eyebrow at this. "Hmm?"

"Someone wanted to let you know that they're checking out of the hospital."

Sogo shoved his hands into the pockets of his Shinsengumi uniform. He was currently walking out the front entrance of the hospital. He had some bandages covering his wounds, but he was by no means in a dire condition. He had been given special permission to check out of the hospital and rest instead at Shinsengumi Headquarters.

The perks of being a cop he thought as he stared at the orange sky above him.

Just then, someone called out to him. "Hey, Sadist, wait a second!"

He turned around to find Kagura running out of the hospital chasing after him. He just stood there while he waited for her to catch up. When she finally did, she took a moment to catch her breath.

"Surprising to see you here, China," he said plainly.

"I heard you were leaving," the girl said between breaths. "I…wanted to talk to you before you left."

Sogo just frowned at her. "Oh?"

"Yeah," said Kagura, standing up straight. "I just wanted to say thank you."

"Thank you?" repeated Sogo, sounding confused.

"Yes," Kagura confirmed. "Thank you for setting me free back when I was held captive in your base, and thanks for tagging along with me on the enemy's ship. I honestly couldn't have made it as far as I did without your cooperation, so thanks."

Sogo just stared at her. He was silent for a moment, and then…

"I…heard that you were the one who saved me when the ship was falling out of the sky."

Kagura stared back at him for a second, but soon nodded. "Yes, I somehow managed to find a way to save us both...I got lucky, I guess."

"Hmm," said Sogo with a slight shrug. "Then consider the debt paid."

Sogo then turned around and started walking away, his hands still in his pockets. "Take care of your sister, China," he said quietly.

Kagura watched him go, and oddly enough, found herself smiling. That almost never happened around the Sadist unless she was beating the crap out of him. It was odd, indeed.

"Hey, Sadist," she called. "Next time, tell your stupid tax robber friends not to fire on the ship that their allies are on! We almost died!"

Sogo found himself smiling at this comment. He lifted up a hand in farewell without turning around. An idea then started to form in his head.

Oh, I'll let them know. But it won't be all of them, just Hijikata-san. Now how should I give him the message? Oh, I know, I'll just write it down and stick it to something. But what could I possibly stick the note to? Hmm, perhaps the Shinsengumi has some grenades lying around. Yeah, that could probably work…

When Kagura returned to her hospital room, she discovered that Gintoki had already left, and it was now just her and Tsukuyo once more. Kagura started to head for her bed when Tsukuyo addressed her.

"My, Kagura, you ran off in a hurry there," Tsukuyo noted. "Where exactly did you go?"

"Oh, I just…had to say goodbye to a friend," Kagura replied slyly.

Tsukuyo smiled. "Oh yeah? Who?"

Kagura frowned and then rolled her eyes a little. "Ugh, you know who," she replied as she crawled back into bed.

"It's that young man in the Shinsengumi, right?"

"Yes…"

Tsukuyo scratched her chin as she stared at the girl. "Tell me, Kagura, what do you think about him?"

Kagura stared back at her for a moment, and then shrugged. "Well, I used to really hate him. I mean, he's kind of an asshole and all, but now…well, I guess he's all right."

"He's all right?" repeated Tsukuyo.

"Yeah, not good, but not bad," Kagura simplified. The girl then hastily shrugged, trying to dismiss the subject entirely. "Eh, I don't know. Who cares?"

Tsukuyo smirked as she watched the girl turn away. "Say, do you have a crush on him?"

Kagura immediately froze as her eyes opened wide. She then whipped back to yell at Tsukuyo. "What!? No! No way in hell! What are you talking about, Tsukky!?"

This time, Tsukuyo shrugged. "I don't know. Despite what you say, you seem rather attached to him."

"Of course not!" Kagura retorted. "Listen, I've hated that guy my whole life! He's a huge jerk! And now, just because I said he's 'all right' or whatever, it doesn't mean that I like him or anything! Sheesh!"

Tsukuyo laughed at this a little. "Calm down, Kagura. I was only joking around."

"This isn't something you joke about!" said the girl, still upset.

"My apologies," said Tsukuyo with a smile. "I just thought that it was normal for sisters to tease each other."

"Well you went too far! Don't ever make jokes about me and that sadist being in love! It's disgusting!"

"Whatever you say," said Tsukuyo, still grinning. She then turned away as Kagura continued to deny any sort of interest in her Shinsengumi friend. Suddenly, Tsukuyo paused, and frowned as she realized something.

Wait a second she thought. Why am I teasing Kagura about a potential love interest? This isn't like me…Oh no, don't tell me…I never wanted this to happen…

Tsukuyo put a palm to her forehead as she closed her eyes in embarrassment.

I'm starting to turn into Hinowa…

A shorter chapter this time around. You know, it's just something to unwind after all that chaos and action. Great. Well, the next chapter will be the last chapter of Book 3. Good. Book 3 took me way longer to write than it should have XD I guess I can only blame myself and my lazy habits. Figures.

As for this chapter, the only thing I really want to touch upon is the conversation between Kagura and Sogo. When I was writing it, I thought about throwing some of their usual insults and childish antics in there, but I kind of liked the idea of them just calmly conversing like adults for a change. Or maybe they were acting like comrades? Something like that. Basically, I just wanted to change things up a little with them showing each other some respect, so there you go.

And that's about it. Please feel free to leave a review and of course please look forward to the Book 3 Finale! See you then!