Silver Moon – Book 5 Chapter 14
Gintoki and Tsukuyo ran up the stairs at a furious pace. There were still some innocent citizens running down the stairs, trying to flee from the building as the fire alarm continued to blare. Thankfully, they were so few at this point that the couple had no trouble avoiding them as they ascended.
However, the trouble came whenever Gintoki and Tsukuyo ran into one of Takasugi's men. They would turn up every once in a while, and prepare to do battle. This hindered Gintoki and Tsukuyo's progress, if only for a second before they effortlessly dispatched the threat. Every enemy simply fell to the couple's weapons without a problem.
Eventually, the fire alarm stopped ringing overhead, and the building went quiet. Gintoki looked up as he ran. "It stopped," he noted. "Someone must have realized that it was a false alarm and shut it off."
"That's fine," Tsukuyo replied. "It's already served its purpose by now."
As she said that, they turned a corner and found more of Takasugi's thugs standing on the stairway. It seemed that by this point, most if not all of the crowds inside the Terminal had evacuated, leaving only the enemies behind.
Wasting no time, Tsukuyo showered the enemies in kunai. Several of them fell to the floor before they had even had a chance to make a move. A few of them still stood, but Gintoki rushed forward to knock them aside, finishing them off. It had only taken a moment to remove the obstacle before them.
"We're almost to the thirteenth floor," said Gintoki. "Let's hurry!" He went to keep running but paused when he saw Tsukuyo halt for a second. "What's up?"
Tsukuyo was blankly staring off into space, not even listening to him. She thought she had just heard something, even though it was incredibly faint…
"Gintoki…" she whispered, "did you…just hear a baby's cry?"
Kyoko continued to wail as she squirmed around in Takasugi's arms. She had already been fussing before the fire alarm went off, but the intensely loud ringing had only disturbed the poor child further. She was now so worked up that it seemed almost impossible to calm her.
Takasugi looked up. "Hmm, the fire alarm has stopped…"
Matako placed a hand on her ear. "Ugh! Sure, the ringing has stopped, but now that brat won't shut up!"
"She's clearly upset," said Takechi with crossed arms.
Takasugi soon turned his attention back to the crying infant. He attempted to soothe her once more. "Indeed, that fire alarm startled her. Although, I also wonder if she senses that her parents are nearby?"
"She's just a baby, Shinsuke-sama…" said Matako as she rolled her eyes.
Takechi soon frowned as he also put a hand to his ear. He held onto his earpiece as yet another frantic communication came in. "Shinsuke-dono," he called out. "This is bad. I'm receiving reports from left and right that the Shiroyasha is rapidly approaching this location. We're going to have to retreat further if we want to escape."
Takasugi tried to listen through Kyoko's cries as he tried to quiet her. He soon frowned at the stress of it all. "Shit," he cursed. "Matako, head towards the stairs and cut Gintoki off. Meanwhile, Takechi and I will head to the next floor, using a different stairwell. You just keep him away from us as long as possible, so we can escape."
Matako frowned as she nodded. "That's fine with me, just as long as I can get away from this fussy brat." She soon drew a gun with each hand and started heading away from them. "You two get going. I'll make sure to stall him."
"Good," said Takasugi, quickly running in the opposite direction. Takechi was following right behind him. All the while, Kyoko continued to cry in his arms.
Gintoki and Tsukuyo soon reached the level marked as the thirteenth floor and ran inside. The floor itself was huge, stretching wide in every direction. They could still hear Kyoko's wailing, but it sounded distant.
"Come on," said Gintoki. "They're close."
Gintoki ran straight ahead through the abandoned floor, passing by desks and benches. Tsukuyo followed behind him, keeping an eye out for Kyoko and her kidnappers. Gintoki also glanced back and forth.
He clenched his teeth. Where are they?
Suddenly, Tsukuyo spotted something out of the corner of her eye. She immediately grabbed Gintoki and forced his head down as she dived to the floor. "Look out!"
They both fell below a desk as a bullet zipped by overhead. Once it passed, Gintoki and Tsukuyo poked their heads over the counter, only to see the Crimson Bullet herself, with two guns pointed straight at them.
"Don't move!" yelled Matako. "If you do, I'll fill you full of lead!"
Tsukuyo clenched her teeth as she glared at the woman. She soon stood up straight and slammed her hands down on the counter. "Where is my baby!?" she demanded angrily.
Matako didn't fire as Tsukuyo exposed herself, but she didn't respond either. She simply frowned as she kept her gun pointed at the courtesan.
Gintoki slowly started to stand up as well while Tsukuyo yelled at the gunslinger. "Well!? Where is she!?"
After a moment, Matako chose to point both guns at Tsukuyo. "You won't be advancing any further. I don't know why Shinsuke-sama wants that child so badly, but I'm still going to do my job and protect it."
This comment genuinely pissed Tsukuyo off. From the side, Gintoki could clearly see her shaking with fury as she clenched her fists. "Protect it?" Tsukuyo breathed. She soon gave Matako an incredibly intense glare. "You have no right to protect Kyoko from her parents…"
"Tsukuyo," said Gintoki softly from the side.
Tsukuyo didn't even look at him, but soon grabbed him by the hand. She then grabbed one of her kunai before slapping it into his open palm. "Take this," she said quietly. "Go on ahead, and save our daughter."
Gintoki stared at the weapon she had given him before staring back at her. "You sure?"
Tsukuyo let go of his hand as she drew more kunai. "Yeah," she said through clenched teeth. "I'll handle this bitch on my own."
Gintoki stared at her for a moment longer before tightly grasping the small blade in his hand. "I promise I'll rescue her," he said confidently.
"Get going," she whispered.
In the next instant, Gintoki took off and started running ahead. Matako went to shoot him, but a kunai came flying through the air and subsequently knocked the gun out of her grasp. Tsukuyo was soon rushing towards the gunslinger with fire in her eyes.
Matako reacted quickly by pointing her gun directly at Tsukuyo and firing. The courtesan dodged to the side as she threw a kunai in Matako's direction. The gunslinger ducked for cover as she retrieved her dropped weapon.
Meanwhile, Gintoki had successfully escaped from that encounter, and was now running across the floor in search of Takasugi.
I'm not seeing them anywhere! he thought as he glanced back and forth. Is it possible that they went to the next floor in an attempt to get away? It makes sense…They would have avoided going down since that was the direction we were coming from…
Up the stairs then! Gintoki suddenly decided. He dashed to the nearest staircase and began climbing them as fast as he could. As if to confirm his suspicions, Gintoki could soon hear Kyoko's cries once more.
She was close.
Takasugi and Takechi arrived at the next floor, and started crossing it at a quick pace. They didn't exactly know where they were going, but they did know that they had to put some space between them and the enemy.
Kyoko continued to wail as Takasugi carried her off. It seemed that no matter what Takasugi tried to do, she just wouldn't be consoled. As time passed, the infant showed no signs of exhaustion, and simply continued to cry at the top of her lungs.
Takasugi soon started to lose his patience with her. "Hush child!" he snapped with clenched teeth. Needless to say, Kyoko continued to cry.
"Things seem to be quickly falling apart," said Takechi with a frown. "At this rate, our only chance of escape will be to steal a ship since we can't retreat downstairs."
Takasugi stared at him for a moment before looking away. "Very well, get it prepared."
Takechi simply nodded, and then started heading for the nearest hangar where a ship would be waiting.
Takasugi soon turned his attention back to Kyoko. As the poor infant continued to cry, it suddenly happened again. Kyoko's tiny body began to shine with a bright light for an instant before returning to normal.
As he watched this, Takasugi's single eye glistened. He could hardly believe the treasure he held in his hands. I want it he thought with a grin. This power…I desperately want it. I need this girl to be an ally more than anything else! Or even better, I could have her as my pawn!
Without warning, a single kunai pierced through the air, heading straight for Takasugi's head. He reacted quickly, cradling Kyoko in his arms as he dodged to the side. The kunai flew past him and stuck itself in the wall. The impact it left in the wall was destructive enough to leave cracks in every direction.
Takasugi's expression soon turned into a scowl as he looked to the source of the weapon. Even Takechi, who had already taken a few steps away from him, stood still in order to see what was going on. They both frowned at what they saw.
Gintoki slowly started walking towards Takasugi. He had a slight smile on his face.
"Papa is here," he declared.
Meanwhile, Tsukuyo was currently hiding behind a bench as a few bullets flew over her head. The battle against Matako had turned into a bit of a stalemate with neither side wanting to fully expose themselves to the other's weapons.
Tsukuyo took a moment to catch her breath as she wiped some sweat off of her forehead. I'm sick and tired of this shit she thought with a glare. My precious daughter gets kidnapped by a maniac, and then I have to run around and track her down while at the same time fighting these annoying people that insist on keeping me away from her…
This entire situation has really pissed me off…
Clenching her teeth, Tsukuyo grabbed some kunai and peered around the side of the bench. She quickly spotted Matako, peeking out from behind a large potted bush. She then had to suddenly duck behind the bench again as a bullet flew past her.
This bitch won't let me get close to her…She has the advantage at this distance. However, if I can manage to close the distance, then I'll win.
Choosing to go on the offensive, Tsukuyo peered above the bench and hurled a kunai right towards Matako. The gunslinger's eyes widened when she saw it coming, and ducked behind her bush. Tsukuyo soon made her move, jumping out from behind the bench and running forward.
Matako revealed herself again as she fired with both guns. Tsukuyo watched the bullets carefully before making a split-second strike. Crossing her arms into an "X" shape, she whipped them both forward right before the bullets struck. The crisscross slash was successful in cutting both bullets in half. Tsukuyo kept running forward.
"Shit!" Matako cursed, deciding to change her aim. This time, she aimed for Tsukuyo's ankles, knowing that the courtesan wouldn't be able to block any bullets down there. She quickly fired.
Tsukuyo noticed what she was doing, and did the only thing she could. She jumped over the shots, which ended up flying right underneath her. However, the moment she left the ground, she saw Matako point the gun at her airborne body. Tsukuyo clenched her teeth, knowing that she would be unable to freely dodge in the air.
Matako grinned and took the shot. Tsukuyo frowned as she did the only thing she could. She hurled a kunai towards the gunslinger. After that, she tried her best to twist in the air, but the bullet still managed to graze her right arm. Tsukuyo ended up diving behind a nearby table for cover.
Meanwhile, her kunai had successfully flown straight toward its target. The small blade pierced right through the barrel of Matako's gun, crushing it from the inside. Matako stared at the destroyed weapon with wide eyes. She had not expected a simple kunai to be capable of such damage. Matako quickly discarded the weapon and went to draw another.
At the same time, Tsukuyo was back on the move, running straight towards her target. She saw Matako reaching for a new gun, and threw a kunai in her direction in an attempt to distract her.
Matako saw the blade coming towards her, and, using one fluid motion, quickly rolled out of the way while at the same time drawing her new gun. Once she stopped, she pointed both firearms at Tsukuyo and began firing rapidly.
Tsukuyo jumped behind a trash can, but she only stayed there for a moment before she could hear the bullets riddling the other side of the bin. She soon jumped out of the way just as several shots flew through the flimsy object, right where she had been hiding. She ran to the nearest bench and slid behind it just as several more bullets followed her footsteps.
Tsukuyo tried to catch her breath. I'm getting close. If I'm quick enough, I can make it to her in the next rush. The problem is, it looks like she's gone completely on the offensive. She's not going to let up on that rain of fire unless I make her…
Thinking quickly, Tsukuyo ran out from behind the bench just as Matako finished reloading both of her weapons. Another barrage of fire was laid upon Tsukuyo's wake as she ran. The courtesan ended up jumping and grabbing a small table before flipping it on its side to use as a shield. She took cover behind it, and the bullets stopped for a moment in response to that.
Just what I was hoping for Tsukuyo thought.
Without warning, Tsukuyo kicked the table straight towards Matako, who by this point was not that far away. Matako looked surprised to see the table flying towards her person, but she reacted quickly by jumping out of its way. She then turned to the side to find Tsukuyo charging her once more. She pointed the first gun at her.
Tsukuyo quickly threw a kunai at the girl before she had a chance to fire. The kunai pierced her arm right when she fired, causing the aim to be slightly off. Because of that, the bullet ended up whizzing past Tsukuyo's head, barely missing.
Tsukuyo threw her second kunai just as Matako was about to point her second gun at her. The kunai didn't hit the weapon head on like the last time, but it did manage to knock the gun right out of Matako's grasp.
Tsukuyo was now weaponless until she grabbed another kunai, but she chose not to in favor of finally closing the distance between her and her enemy.
Matako used her only gun left to aim at Tsukuyo once more, but it was too late, for Tsukuyo was already at her location. Tsukuyo swiftly kicked the remaining weapon out of her grasp, completely disarming her. After that, Tsukuyo threw another kick at Matako, this time hitting her in the stomach and sending her flying against a wall. Before she even had a chance to fall to the floor, four kunai shot out and pierced through her arms, effectively pinning them to the wall. This action kept her in place, preventing her from falling.
Matako clenched her teeth as she found herself stuck there. She couldn't remove herself from the wall, and any attempt to move her arms only made the pain intensify. She growled as she struggled back and forth.
Tsukuyo stared at her for a moment to make sure that she was completely stuck. Once she was satisfied, she took a deep breath before approaching the woman.
Matako tried to struggle once more. "Damn it!" she cursed as blood dripped out of her wounds. She then looked to Tsukuyo who was approaching her with a deadly glare.
Once Tsukuyo reached her, she immediately grabbed Matako's head and forced it back against the wall behind her. Tsukuyo then got close to her and spoke in a whisper. "Listen up, bitch," she said coldly. "If you ever go near my daughter again, I will end you…"
Tsukuyo held her head against the wall for a few more seconds before letting it go. She then started walking away from the gunslinger.
As she did, Matako gave her a small glare of her own and decided to add one last spiteful remark. "Hmph, fine. I couldn't care less about some shitty brat born of a bitch anyway."
As soon as Tsukuyo heard this, she immediately turned around and slapped Matako hard on the cheek in order to shut her up. The powerful strike seemed to do the trick, as Matako went silent after it landed. Tsukuyo then gave her one final glare before running off.
She ran in the direction that Gintoki had went earlier, hoping to quickly catch up with him. After all, she was still hell-bent on finding her baby.
Don't worry, Kyoko Tsukuyo thought as she ran. Mommy is coming!
Hello everyone. I hope you are all doing well and enjoyed the chapter! I wonder if I might have made Tsukuyo out to be too coldhearted here, but I mean these are the people that kidnapped her baby after all, and when I think about that, I feel like she might be letting them off lightly instead XD
Anyways, I mentioned a couple chapters ago that I had an announcement that I need to make, and well I guess now is a good time to do it. I was kind of worried about making this announcement around the time of Gintama's end, since it would seem like double bad news, but since Gintama isn't over yet, I have nothing to worry about! Here's the announcement:
Book 5 will be the last book of Silver Moon.
Uh…actually, it still sounds kind of sad when I say it. Even if Gintama isn't ending, the fact that my three-and-a-half story will be coming to a conclusion soon is kind of depressing. But it's true. After all this time, Silver Moon will finally be reaching a conclusion. By the way, this is why I started Book 5 with the same paragraph as Book 1. It was kind of like, "this is how the first story started, and it will also be how the last story starts". I thought it would seem kind of cool that way.
I really hope that this news isn't too sudden, because this is how I planned it from the beginning. I wanted to write a story about Gintoki and Tsukuyo becoming parents, and I figured that would generally be the end of focusing on their relationship, because from this point forward, the story would inevitably focus more on them as parents rather than lovers. Anyways, I feel like I'm rambling now. But there you go, Silver Moon will end once Book 5 is complete…It's kind of sad…
However…at the same time, I do have an idea for a sequel story, focusing on Gintoki and Tsukuyo raising Kyoko as a child…and I'm probably going to end up writing it…heh heh heh…So…is it really bad news after all? XD
Well, nothing is set in stone yet. I'm not 100% sure how much longer Book 5 will continue for, but I can at least assure you that it still has a bit left to go before the end. So hold back your goodbyes for now! Instead, please feel free to leave a review and look forward to the next chapter! I'll see you all then!