Sincere apologies for releasing this late. As soon as I finished writing this chapter, my laptop's hard drive crashed (or something like that) and I nearly lost all my files. Thankfully I was able to get it fixed within a week, and it's all well and good now. Still though, it would have been really frustrating having to rewrite this entire chapter! So yes, I am very thankful that everything was saved. Now on with the story!

Silver Moon – Book 4 Chapter 10

That evening, the sun disappeared behind the dark gray clouds that were gathering in the sky. Tsukuyo just frowned as the city around her darkened. It really seemed to set a gloomy tone for a gloomy day.

Well, it would have probably been considered gloomy, if she hadn't been accompanied by two energetic kids all day.

Sure enough, even as Tsukuyo turned around to look at them, they still walked behind her at a carefree pace.

Shinpachi looked up at the sky. "Oh my, it looks like it might rain."

"Mr. Rain Drop, falling away from me now," sang Kagura happily.

Tsukuyo simply continued to stare at them while she walked down the street. "You know, you guys don't have to keep following me, right?"

Shinpachi and Kagura turned to look at the courtesan. "But it's our job," they said in unison.

"Still, even if Gintoki insisted, it's really not necessary," Tsukuyo told them.

In response, the two kids just shrugged.

"Eh, we don't mind," said Kagura.

"We're honestly just happy to be getting paid for once," said Shinpachi.

Tsukuyo just gave a sigh and then turned around. "Suit yourselves."

To be honest, Tsukuyo didn't really mind their company, but it just felt weird having to rely on two kids to be your bodyguard against your will. Especially when Tsukuyo didn't feel like she needed to be watched over at all.

Something's strange Tsukuyo thought to herself. Why would Gintoki insist that these two come with me? I just can't figure it out…He wouldn't normally insist on something like this, right? Did his brain get injured too when he was attacked?

Tsukuyo paused. Attacked…

Tsukuyo then shook her head as she arrived at the hospital. She soon led the two kids onto an elevator and quickly rode it to Gintoki's floor.

I'm probably just jumping to conclusions Tsukuyo thought as the elevator doors opened up. I'm sure that Gintoki was just being overprotective, thinking I'll sneak off to work or something…

As Tsukuyo and the others stepped out into the hallway, they almost bumped into two frantic nurses.

"He's not over here!" the one nurse yelled.

"Keep looking!"

Tsukuyo and the others simply watched this with surprised looks. "What's going on?" asked Kagura.

"I don't know," said Tsukuyo. "But, I wonder…"

Wasting no time, Tsukuyo suddenly took off down the halls.

"Ah, Tsukuyo-san, wait!" Shinpachi yelled after her.

Tsukuyo just ignored him as she ran straight to Gintoki's room. Sure enough, there was a group of nurses clustered outside the door. Tsukuyo quickly demanded their attention. "What's going on here!?"

"Oh!" said one of the nurses, quickly recognizing Tsukuyo. "Oh, um, it's his wife…"

His wife? wondered Tsukuyo. She quickly clenched her teeth. "What's going on here!?" she asked again.

The nurses looked a little frightened at her tone. "M-mam, please calm down…"

Tsukuyo couldn't take it anymore. She soon pushed her way through the horde of nurses and into Gintoki's room. She then gave a frown. She was afraid that this was what she would find. It was Gintoki's hospital room without a Gintoki. The room was empty save for her. Gintoki was nowhere to be found.

At that moment, Shinpachi and Kagura also arrived, just as Tsukuyo quickly turned on the nurses. "Where is Gintoki!?" she asked. "Where is my husband!?"

"We…we don't know," said one nurse.

"He just…disappeared!" said another.

"Disappeared?" repeated Tsukuyo. "You lost him!? How could you have possibly lost my husband!?"

The nurses all looked speechless, save for one, who seemed a little peeved about the whole thing. "Well, this isn't exactly the first time he's done something like this. This Sakata patient has snuck out of his room before."

Amidst her anxiety, Tsukuyo didn't care to question that, although the event did sound rather familiar…

"Tsukky, calm down," said Kagura from the hallway. "This is Gin-chan, after all. I'm sure he's just doing something stupid."

"Y-yeah," agreed Shinpachi. "He probably went to get some candy from the vending machine, or something."

Tsukuyo just shook her head before nervously crossing her arms. As much as I want to believe that, I know better. Gintoki, with his injuries, wouldn't just disappear without a reason. And he also wouldn't make Shinpachi and Kagura follow me around all day without a reason either…

Tsukuyo then glanced out the window into the dark cityscape. Something really strange is going on…and it might not be my imagination…

Tsukuyo then shivered as she looked at Gintoki's empty bed. She suddenly had a feeling that Gintoki could be in danger…

Yagami watched this scene from on top of a building next to the hospital. By using a pair of binoculars and looking through the hospital window, he could easily see everything happening inside.

The nurses are in a panic, and so is the Shiroyasha's wife…

Yagami then shifted his gaze around, but couldn't find what he was looking for. What the…? Where is the Shiroyasha? He's not in his room?

Suddenly, Yagami felt a cold chill run down his spine, and he flinched. He then whipped around at the last second as a sword was thrust at his face. Acting on instincts, the assassin managed to block the blade by letting it penetrate his arm. Yagami clenched his teeth in pain before following the blade up with his eyes, only to be surprised at who stood before him.

"Shiroyasha?" he breathed, surprised.

Sure enough, Gintoki stood before him, with an intense glare on his face.

Yagami didn't know what to say. "Y-you attacked me!? But how!? That shouldn't be possible!"

Gintoki just continued to glare at him before withdrawing his blade from the man's arm. Taking this opportunity to retreat, Yagami jumped back and held his new wound. He was then able to get a clear look at Gintoki for the first time since his surprise attack.

"Oh…now I see…"

Gintoki looked down at himself. In his right hand, he had managed to strap his new metal sword into his palm by using the bandages he had found earlier. By overlapping and crossing them tightly, he had been able to basically attach the hilt to his useless hand. The sword was now literally an extension of his arm.

As for movement, his actions with the sword were rather choppy, but found that if he focused himself, he could move the sword as accurately as he needed to. The only problem was that his hand suffered some pain every time he swung the weapon.

But hey, this was the only way that he could think of to use a sword with two broken wrists. The only downside was that it had taken him all afternoon to strap the sword to his hand. That's what happens when you have two useless appendages.

Yagami simply continued to stare at the man, but soon grinned. "You're very cunning, aren't you? I sent you to the hospital, and yet you still found a way to come back and fight."

Gintoki just glared at him while Yagami laughed. "Ah, but what other choice did you have?" the assassin asked. "With no way to warn others of the danger close by, you had no choice but to come face me yourself, correct?"

Gintoki shifted his gaze from Yagami to the rooftop below them. He quickly scanned the area.

"Hmph, it must have been torture," Yagami continued. "Not being able to talk or use your hands. Well, I hope you liked it. Criminals like you don't deserve a quiet, happy life. No, Shiroyasha, you deserve to be tortured."

Gintoki just ignored him as he slyly continued to scan the area around his feet.

"You know, I've been through a bit of torture today myself," said Yagami with a frown. "It's been nothing short of downright frustrating having to follow my target around without being allowed an opportunity to take them out. With you, it was easy. But with your wife, she was never alone. No, she was accompanied by two kids all day, never leaving their sight. It wasn't long before I realized that you had somehow managed to take precautions against me…"

Gintoki finally found what he was looking for: Yagami's trademark Naraku spear. It was simply lying on the rooftop off to his left, apparently having been forgotten by its owner when he retreated a few steps. Wasting no time, Gintoki ran over to the weapon and kicked it off into the streets below. Yagami just watched this with a surprised look on his face. However, it wasn't long before the realization came to him. He gave an angry frown.

"Was that…my spear?"

Gintoki stared at him for a moment, but then reached up and tried his best to cradle his throat with his broken hand. Through some intense struggling, he was actually able to produce a word.

"Idiot," he said.

Yagami's frown soon turned into a grin as he drew the katana on his waist. "You'll soon regret that," he whispered. "If you think you're any match for me in your sorry state…"

And if you think you're any match for me without that toxic spear Gintoki thought back, you're dead wrong.

Yagami then started approaching the samurai. "Well, orders are orders. I was told to kill you in the utmost secrecy, so that's what I plan to do. And what better place to do that then here, where no one knows where you are?"

Gintoki brought his free hand over to his sword hand, and tried to clench it to the best of his ability. It hurt, but it worked. Now taking the blade in both hands, he lunged forward. Yagami did the same.

Their swords met in the middle, and Gintoki instantly felt pain flood into his wrist. He winced a little bit, but tried his best to keep his grip and not lose his stance. One mistake here could easily be fatal.

And besides, it wasn't all bad. Gintoki also noticed that Yagami flinched a little when he moved his bleeding arm. Without his spear, the playing field wasn't too far from being even.

Gintoki retracted his blade and swung it once more. Yagami simply blocked it by swinging his own sword. Suddenly, Gintoki brought his leg up and kicked Yagami hard in the knees. The man instantly buckled under the pain for a moment, giving Gintoki an opportunity to get close and deliver a head-butt. As Yagami fell over backwards, his kasa went flying off into the streets below.

"Tch," said Yagami as he landed on his feet. "You're being a lot more aggressive than what I would have expected from a broken man."

Gintoki just ignored him as he chose to rush forward. Using both hands and gritting his teeth through the pain, he swung his sword at the assassin. Yagami jumped back in order to avoid it, but Gintoki wasn't just going to let him get away that easily. He proceeded to continue rushing forward and swinging fiercely in an attempt to hit the man. In response, Yagami just kept jumping back.

Eventually, Yagami jumped to another rooftop, and Gintoki jumped right behind him. There was no way that the samurai was going to let this guy out of his sight. Gintoki swung his sword vertically, and Yagami tried his best to block horizontally. Gintoki threw as much power as he could behind the swing despite his pain, and the force of the blow made the rooftop crack under Yagami's feet. Several tiles even flew down into the streets.

Yagami clenched his teeth. "How can you still be so strong after being injured!?"

Gintoki simply went to swing again, but this time, Yagami moved quickly to outpace him. He dodged the swing and instantly thrusted his sword right into Gintoki's side. Gintoki winced in pain once again before jumping backwards.

Yagami quickly gave chase, and using both hands, threw a powerful swing at the samurai. Instinctively blocking it with his own blade, Gintoki was immediately sent flying. As the samurai fell hard onto the roof tiles, Yagami once again pursued him, but suddenly stopped.

Yagami turned to his right, and immediately frowned at what he saw in the streets below. He could see red and blue flashing lights atop a car. A police car.

Shit he cursed. The Shinsengumi? Why are they here?

Yagami soon noticed another police car on the other side of the building, and yet another one down the street.

They're everywhere! Yagami realized. If they see me, this mission will be compromised! I'll need to either escape, or finish the Shiroyasha off quick-

Yagami didn't get a chance to finish that thought, for while he was distracted, Gintoki leapt at him. His shining sword raised high above his head, Gintoki brought it down diagonally just as Yagami attempted to jump backwards. He was partially unsuccessful though, as Gintoki's blade left a large gash from his left shoulder to the middle of his chest.

"YAGH!" Yagami cried.

Like I'm going to let that opportunity go to waste! Gintoki shouted in his mind.

"Damn it," Yagami cursed as he held his new wound. Things are going from bad to worse. The Shiroyasha is already proving himself a far greater challenge than I could have imagined. And now the Shinsengumi are prowling the area too? I need to make an escape, quickly.

Setting his priorities straight, Yagami quickly darted to the left. He then leapt onto another rooftop as he started to sprint. Gintoki soon noticed this and chased after him. Using his full strength, he soon caught up with the assassin. He swung his sword vertically, and Yagami barely managed to block the attack. The force of the blow knocked him down hard onto the rooftop, and roof tiles flew everywhere.

You're not going anywhere Gintoki thought as he thrust his blade at the fallen man. Yagami's eyes widened as he saw the sharp metal approach him and quickly hopped to his feet. He managed to deflect the thrust at the last second, but he was then met with a flurry of swings from Gintoki. It was all Yagami could do to block the blows as the samurai forced him backwards.

This man thought Yagami as he clenched his teeth. He's not going to let me get away. This situation really is desperate. At this point, I have no choice. I'll have to call for backup.

Feeling determined, Yagami met Gintoki's next swing head on with his full strength. The blades collided in the middle, and both men were sent back a bit as their respective injuries flared up with pain. Yagami wasted none of this precious free time in order to reach into his pocket and click the button on a small device.

A small force of Naraku will arrive here in minutes. They'll provide me the assistance needed to either defeat the Shiroyasha or make my escape. Probably the latter. I just need to hold out until then…

"Huh?" said someone from off to the side. "Boss, is that you?"

Gintoki and Yagami both turned to look at the newcomer with complete surprise. For some reason, Yamazaki of the Shinsengumi was sitting there, crawling onto the roof and staring at them.

What's he doing here? Gintoki wondered.

Yagami, on the other hand, started to sweat. He's…he's seen me…

"I heard a commotion, so I climbed up here to check it out," Yamazaki explained. "What's…going on here?"

Just then, several Naraku agents fell on the rooftop from the sky. They all landed gracefully and immediately took up their spears. Yagami quickly took advantage of this opportunity.

"Kill that man!" Yagami exclaimed, pointing at Yamazaki. "After that, go fight any nearby Shinsengumi officers. The commotion will give me a chance to escape!"

Yamazaki looked confused. "S-say what…?"

The Naraku just nodded their heads before swarming the poor man. In response, Yamazaki screeched in terror before jumping from the rooftop and scampering off down the street.

"What the hell's going on!?" he cried.

"After him!" Yagami ordered. "My existence has been disclosed! He can't be allowed to live!"

The Naraku did as they were told and followed Yamazaki into the streets below. Gintoki just watched this from the sidelines with a grim look on his face. He had a feeling that this location would soon become an all-out battlefield.

Still he thought, I need to focus on this guy. I'm not sure what the cops are doing here, but they should be able to handle all these new enemies. As for Yagami, I'll have to deal with him myself.

Feeling a new wave of determination, Gintoki clenched his teeth and leapt at his opponent while he was still distracted shouting orders. Yagami soon noticed him however, and quickly managed to block the blow.

"Nice try," he sneered. "But you won't catch me off guard twice."

Gintoki just frowned as he retracted his blade and the battle continued…

Outside the hospital, Kondo stood with his arms crossed with several of his men behind him. "The Yorozuya's gone missing?" he asked.

"Yes," said Tsukuyo, who stood across from him. "And I have a really bad feeling about it."

"So that's why you called for them?" asked Shinpachi from behind the courtesan.

"You think Gin-chan is in danger?" asked Kagura.

"Maybe," said Tsukuyo hesitantly. She honestly wasn't sure of anything, but she just couldn't shake the awful feeling she had right now. A few moments ago, in an act of desperation, she had decided to do something she would have never done under normal circumstances.

Tsukuyo had called the Shinsengumi.

Normally, in an emergency or other extremity, she would have never bothered relying on their help. It just wouldn't have been necessary when Tsukuyo held a silent belief that she was a strong woman who could handle her own problems.

But, when her injured husband had suddenly disappeared along with a mysterious attacker currently on the loose, she couldn't help but feel incredibly worried. She honestly would have run off looking for Gintoki herself, but taking her current pregnancy into account made her hesitate. In this situation, she felt the need to rely on others.

And so, she called for the police. Thankfully, they had shown up rather quickly, and amassing a large force of men as well.

"I have a bad feeling that Gintoki might be getting attacked again," Tsukuyo suddenly revealed. "I mean, why else would he have disappeared like this? If he knew that danger was coming, there's no doubt that he would have ran off to confront it, despite his injuries…"

"I see," said Kondo, considering her words. "But what exactly is this danger?"

Just then, they heard somebody shouting at them.

"Chief, Chief! Heeeeelp!"

They all turned to find Yamazaki running full sprint towards them. And, to their surprise, hot on his heels was a large group of Naraku agents.

"Y-Yamazaki!?" Kondo cried. "W-what the hell!?"

In turn, the Naraku pursuing Yamazaki soon noticed the Shinsengumi squad stationed up ahead. Taking up their spears, they all disbursed and charged the crowd. In response, the Shinsengumi drew their blades in an attempt to block the attacks.

"W-what the-"

"Naraku agents!?"

"Why are they attacking us!?"

"Yamazaki, what did you do!?"

"I didn't do anything!" Yamazaki cried as he drew his own blade. "They just started chasing me! Chief, what should we do!?"

Kondo just watched the chaos unfold with conflicted feelings. "The Naraku…they work for the government…so why are they…?"

Kagura suddenly stepped up beside him. "Oh, it's these guys again."

Shinpachi also stepped forward. "Nothing but trouble."

Kondo stared at them for a moment before the sound of someone screaming caught his attention. Apparently, a woman had walked out of the hospital right into this mess.

"Lady, stay back!" an officer in front of her shouted. "This place is danger-"

Just then, one of the Naraku plunged his spear into the officer's shoulder. It flew right through him and extended into the woman behind him, digging into her shoulder as well.

"EEEEEYAAAAAAH!" she screamed in pain.

Kondo simply watched this with his mouth hanging open, before soon growing angry and clenching his teeth.

"Shinsengumi!" he shouted. "These men are hostile! Protect the innocent civilians! Do not hesitate to defend yourselves! That's an order!"

In response, the Shinsengumi roared as they started to fight back. Shinpachi and Kagura also ran forward to join in the battle.

"Come on, we need to protect Tsukky!" Kagura yelled.

"Right!" agreed Shinpachi.

Meanwhile, Tsukuyo just watched all of this unfold with a distraught expression. I was right. Something weird is going on. And Gintoki, he's probably in danger!

She soon ran up and grabbed Kondo by the arm. "Gintoki!" she yelled amidst the chaos. "What about Gintoki!? We need to find him!"

Kondo just frowned as he quickly shook his head. "There's no time for that! Can't you see we have a situation here!?"

Tsukuyo clenched her teeth. "So what!? He's got to be in danger too!"

"I'm sorry," Kondo told her as he drew his own sword. "We need to stop the chaos here first!" Wasting no time, he ran over to the nearest car and starting yelling into the radio for backup.

"You guys are completely useless!" Tsukuyo angrily shouted at him. She then shook her head in frustration before glancing up and down the street. I know I shouldn't put myself in danger, but what other choice do I have? Gintoki's hurt and alone! I need to find him! He's got to be around here somewhere…

Suddenly remembering the direction that Yamazaki had arrived from, Tsukuyo locked in on it. There! The enemy came from there!

Feeling determined, Tsukuyo dodged around the battle in front of her and took off down the street in search of her husband…

I wonder if this chapter seemed confusing. I tried my best to explain what was happening, but I still can't help but feel like the content just comes across as confusing. Well, that's chaos for you XD

I have a few notes. I'm honestly not sure how efficient a blade strapped to your useless hand would actually be in combat. I mean, Gintoki still has full control of his arm, and he's done this thing before in the series, so I didn't really think too much about it when I wrote it. I think it's fine.

Also, I didn't originally plan on including Yamazaki in this chapter. But then I realized he could be used as a perfect transition so I threw him in. It's like I said last chapter, I want to include the Shinsengumi more in my story. And I mean, Yamazaki already gets far too little screen time as it is XD

But that's about it. Book 4 is close to being finished. It might seem short but it was never intended to be a long arc to begin with. Besides, after writing Book 3 I think I really needed something shorter to work on XD Anyways, please feel free to leave a review with your thoughts on the chapter and please look forward to the next one! Next time, the fight continues! See you then!