Silver Moon – Book 5 Chapter 16

While Tsukuyo was making her escape, Shinpachi and Kagura continued to fight their opponents in the hangar. Matako was trying to fire bullets at the Yato girl who continued to dart around, while Takechi was meeting his match in a series of sword swings.

"Why is it," Matako began, firing towards Kagura, "that every time we try to do something…you two brats show up to stop us!?"

"Because you guys are the ones always disturbing the peace!" Kagura shouted as she continued to approach her.

"Well, disturbing our version of peace, anyway," Shinpachi mumbled. "The version where some bizarre scenario happens nearly every single day…"

"Hmph," grunted Takechi, swinging his sword. "From that perspective, our 'trouble-making' schemes aren't too far out of the ordinary then."

Shinpachi felt a sweat drop slide down his forehead as he blocked the blow. "Well…perhaps…But we still need to stop you guys!"

"Yeah!" agreed Kagura. "Did you really think that we would let you get away with Kyoko?"

"Tch," said Matako through clenched teeth. "Give us a break. You think we wanted to steal that brat? We were just following orders!"

"That doesn't mean you should go around kidnapping babies!" Kagura shouted back.

"Well, we have a good reason for it!" Matako retorted. She then turned to the side a little. "I just wish Shinsuke-sama would tell us what it is…" she whispered.

"So you don't even know what the reason is!?" Shinpachi yelled from across the room.

Suddenly, just as Shinpachi was delivering his straight-man retort, a loud humming could be heard from outside the hangar. Within seconds, a large ship soon appeared, hovering in the sky. It soon made its way into an empty spot within the hangar and started its landing sequence.

"What's going on!?" yelled Kagura amidst the wind and noise.

"A ship showed up!?" asked Shinpachi.

Meanwhile, Takechi and Matako had their own surprised realization.

"That's-"

"-one of our ships…"

As the ship continued to land in the hangar, someone could be seen jumping from the top and landing amongst the combatants. He stood tall and acted calm as all eyes fell on him.

"This fight is over," said Bansai. "Please, all of you, sheathe your weapons."

"Bansai-senpai!" Matako cried. "What are you talking about?"

"Do as I say, Matako," he said coolly. "The battle is over, is it not? The child's mother has gotten away with her. We no longer have anything to fight for."

Takechi remained silent as Matako continued to argue. "But, our enemies are right here-"

"It doesn't matter," Bansai replied. "Right now, we should focus on retrieving our fallen comrades and making our escape. Any attempt to fight will result in further loss."

"He has a point," Takechi agreed, soon sheathing his weapon. Matako looked like she had more to say, but held her tongue.

Bansai soon turned to Shinpachi and Kagura, who had remained silent until this point. "I understand that you two no longer have anything to fight for as well. Why not go make sure that the child and her mother escape safely?"

The two kids turned to one another for a moment before looking back at the musician.

"You'll let us walk away?" asked Shinpachi.

"That is up to you," said Bansai with a shrug.

The two kids went silent once more. By this point, the ship had finished landing, and it looked as if several soldiers were starting to pour out of it. They were probably going to go and collect as many of their fallen comrades as they could.

Before long, Kagura grabbed Shinpachi by the sleeve and pulled on it. "Come on, let's go make sure that Tsukuyo and Kyoko are okay."

Shinpachi simply nodded as he followed after her. "Yeah…"

The two of them ended up making their escape, following the path that Tsukuyo had taken only minutes before. Bansai watched them leave without a word. Before long, he soon found an upset Matako in his face.

"What the hell, Bansai-senpai!? Are we just going to let our enemies completely have their way!?"

"Don't worry about it," said Bansai, shrugging off the question. "Now tell me, where is Shinsuke?"

Meanwhile, the fierce battle between Gintoki and Takasugi continued to rage on. Both combatants were bleeding as a result of their accumulated wounds, but neither one seemed ready to give in. Gintoki held a slight advantage over his opponent since he was using two blades, but Takasugi was reacting carefully enough so as not to allow the advantage to completely overpower him.

Gintoki swung both of his swords horizontally, hoping to knock Takasugi's blade aside. The terrorist held firm though, and successfully blocked the simultaneous strikes without flinching. He then drew in closer to Gintoki, and forced the hilt of his sword right into Gintoki's stomach. The samurai gasped in pain as he flew backwards.

Takasugi quickly jumped towards him with a spin. Gintoki readied both of his swords in front of him, prepared to defend. Takasugi ended up delivering an onslaught of fierce strikes as he spun through the air. He was like a hurricane, lashing out with each subsequent spin. Gintoki could feel himself being pushed back by the force of the blows.

Eventually, Takasugi's spin started to slow, and he soon landed. Once his feet touched the floor, he rushed past Gintoki, delivering a horizontal slash. It hit its mark while the samurai was still recovering from the aerial attacks, and left a small gash in his arm.

Gintoki clenched his teeth at the pain, and soon turned around to strike back. Takasugi himself turned around just in time to find Gintoki's wooden sword being thrusted at him. He instinctively lifted up his foot and caught the weapon, halting its advance. This left him able to defend against the following attack from Gintoki's second blade. The two pieces of metal collided a few times before Takasugi leapt backwards to safety.

Once they were out of each other's reach, they both paused in order to catch their breath. They glared at each other as the blood from their wounds continued to run down their bodies.

"Why don't you go ahead and give up?" Gintoki asked between breaths. "Tsukuyo has probably caught your man by now…and she'll have gotten Kyoko back too…Face it, we've won."

Takasugi panted for a bit before reaching up and wiping some blood off of his chin. He then grinned. "You really think I'm going to just give in?"

Without warning, Takasugi ran forward with his blade extended, ready to swing. "If you really think that, then you don't know me well enough!"

Gintoki instantly noticed the sudden advancement, and used both of his swords to block the blow. The weapons collided with a loud clang and a rush of wind flying in all directions. Gintoki clenched his teeth as he held firm and looked his enemy in the eye.

"Don't know you well enough?" Gintoki asked. "I think I know you enough to realize that your heart isn't really in this."

Takasugi ignored him as he retracted his blade and began to swing it once more. In a flurry of movement, he struck from side to side, threw out a strong vertical slash, and even attempted a number of thrusts towards his opponent. However, all of the attacks proved ineffective, as Gintoki calmly and expertly evaded them all.

"Be honest," Gintoki continued. "You're not fully invested in taking Kyoko for yourself, are you? You've had plenty of chances to run from us or stop us, but you haven't. If you had really wanted Kyoko, would you have let me reach you? Or would you have let Tsukuyo run by with no trouble?"

Takasugi merely grinned as he continued attacking relentlessly. "You think you have me figured out?"

Gintoki stared at him with confidence. "What's the matter, Takasugi? You couldn't fully commit yourself to kidnapping an innocent baby girl?"

Suddenly, Takasugi seemed to flare up with an intense ferocity, and he swung his sword hard enough to send Gintoki skidding backwards from the force of the attack.

"Don't be ridiculous," Takasugi replied with a frown. "I knew as soon as I took the kid, I'd have you hunting me down like a beast. I tried to take as many precautions as I could, but I still had a feeling that you would catch up in the end. And now that everything seems to be falling apart, and I'm standing here taking out my frustration by trying to kill you, you think I'm giving up?"

Takasugi then flashed a grin as he pointed his blade towards Gintoki. "Don't you ever question my commitment, Gintoki. I'm not the type to half-ass things like you do."

Gintoki smirked a bit at that comment but soon shrugged. "Forgive me for having my doubts. I just wasn't sure if there was a point to us fighting anymore."

"No point, huh?" asked Takasugi, running forward once again. "Now who's the one not fully committed!?"

Gintoki blocked yet another attack as he responded. "I came here for two reasons. To get Kyoko back safely, and to kick your ass. However, by this point, I'd be plenty satisfied with just taking my kid and getting the hell out of here."

"Don't get so smug!" Takasugi warned him. "I still have every intention of claiming Kyoko for myself and making my own escape! But only once I've sliced you to pieces, Gintoki!"

For the first time since their conversation started, Gintoki made an effort to push back against his opponent. "Do you really want her that badly!?" he yelled, somewhat frustrated. "Just leave my family alone, Takasugi!"

Using both of his weapons, Gintoki was able to force Takasugi to take a step backward. The man paused for a moment in order to grasp at his bleeding shoulder. He could feel his strength leaving him, but he prepared to fight once more.

"Come on, Gintoki," he said with a small smile. "Why don't you go ahead and give in? Surely this isn't as bad as you think…"

Gintoki grabbed his own bleeding injury, while also trying to keep a tight grasp on his swords. He too, was quickly losing strength. "Really? Letting some crazy terrorist kidnap my daughter isn't as bad as I think?" he asked sarcastically.

"Say what you will," said Takasugi with confidence, "but I believe Kyoko would be better off being raised by me…"

Gintoki glared at him. "What?"

"Face it, Gintoki. With that special power that lies within her, I can help take her to new heights. I can make sure she uses her power to the fullest potential. I can even create a life for her more grand than anything you could ever offer!"

Gintoki remained silent as he continued glaring at his adversary. Takasugi noticed the look in his eye and soon rushed towards him, with his sword drawn back.

"With my help, Kyoko could potentially control powerful armies and rule over planets like royalty. I can easily help her achieve that!"

Takasugi swung his sword at an insane speed. Gintoki instinctively blocked it with his own metal blade, and went to strike Takasugi with his wooden one. Takasugi quickly twisted to the side, avoiding it. He swung his sword again.

"However, Gintoki, you will only hold her back. You're a pathetic father who can't even understand the magnitude of how amazing and magnificent your own daughter is!"

Takasugi used all of his strength to knock Gintoki's metal blade right out of his grasp. The sharp weapon went spinning across the room. Gintoki tried to move his wooden sword out in front of him before Takasugi could strike again.

"You don't understand anything!" Takasugi yelled.

It was too late. Takasugi's blade pierced right through the middle of Gintoki's chest. The silver-haired samurai coughed up some blood as Takasugi tried to force it in deeper.

Suddenly, Gintoki used his free hand to grab the blade and stop its advance. He held on tight so it wouldn't move an inch. "Don't understand anything?" Gintoki asked quietly.

Takasugi frowned as he tried to remove his weapon from his enemy's chest, but Gintoki held it firm. Out of nowhere, Gintoki's wooden sword came up and hit Takasugi right in the jaw. He ended up falling backwards onto the floor, and he also lost his grip on his weapon.

"I knew," Gintoki admitted quietly. "I knew that Kyoko was special…I knew that she had some strange kind of power within her…"

Gintoki slowly looked down at Takasugi. "I wanted to keep it a secret. Not for the sake of using that power for myself, but for the sake of letting my family live happier lives. I don't ever want anything to ruin that…"

Gintoki paused as he slowly removed Takasugi's blade from his chest. He then cast it aside where he wouldn't be able to reach it. He then leaped forward.

"Takasugi!" he yelled. "I've always had a vow to protect my child! Especially from people like you!"

Without any weapon to use, Takasugi was defenseless as Gintoki descended upon him. Using his wooden sword, Gintoki nailed his enemy again and again. He hit him from every direction, pummeling him from head to toe. Takasugi's eye widened and he coughed up blood as Gintoki mercilessly beat him. Eventually, the samurai finished off the assault by piercing him right in the stomach. Takasugi flew across the room and hit the floor hard.

Things went silent for a moment after that. Gintoki was breathing heavily, trying to stay on his feet after that exchange. After a while, Takasugi started to shake as he attempted to rise to his feet. He glared at his opponent.

"Gintoki…" he growled.

He held his stomach as he slowly and shakily got to his knees. Gintoki stared at him before he started coughing up a little blood himself. Neither one of them was in any shape to continue the fight.

Just then, a round object appeared behind Takasugi. The instant it hit the floor, it started spewing a hazy smoke in every direction. In mere seconds, half of the room was covered in a thick smokescreen.

What's going on? Gintoki wondered.

Before long, Bansai appeared from within the smoke, and calmly approached Takasugi. "That's enough, both of you," he said aloud.

Gintoki tried to take a step forward, but stumbled a bit. "You…"

"Bansai…" said Takasugi between heavy breaths.

Bansai turned towards Gintoki for a moment. "Your wife has successfully reclaimed your child. There is no longer a reason for the two of you to fight."

As soon as he heard this, Gintoki couldn't help but breath a small sigh of relief. Tsukuyo got Kyoko back!

Bansai soon extended a hand to Takasugi, and managed to get him on his feet. "Although, I think it's safe to say that this fight was already just about finished." He turned to Gintoki once more. "I'll be collecting Shinsuke, along with the others. After that, we're leaving. I suggest you do the same."

Gintoki stared at the both of them in silence. Takasugi didn't say a single word in protest. He simply stared at the floor with a frown.

Giving a sigh, Gintoki walked over and collected his metallic sword before sheathing both of his weapons. "Very well."

Bansai also took the time to collect Takasugi's weapon, which was laying nearby. "Best of luck, Shiroyasha," he said before returning to Takasugi and helping him walk. It was clear that the terrorist had to use his subordinate as a crutch in order to move.

Just as they began walking into the smokescreen, Takasugi looked back one last time. "Gintoki," he called. "One day, I'll return for Kyoko. I swear it."

And with that, the duo suddenly faded into the smokescreen, disappearing from view. Gintoki just stared after them with a serious expression. He then gave a frown before he clenched his fists and walked away from the battlefield.

Hi everyone. Sorry this took as long as it did. I had trouble coming up with ideas for the fight scene, so the chapter ended up being kind of short. I still think it turned out fine though.

There's only a couple chapters left before I plan on wrapping up the story. I have no idea if I'm going to start writing them soon or if I'm going to take a long time again XD I don't really want to leave you guys in suspense for too much longer, so I'll try to get to work as soon as I can. The only downside is that means the story will end that much sooner, but oh well.

One thing that I suppose I should address is this "special power" that Kyoko has. I won't elaborate too much on exactly what it is, but I will say that I decided to give her "powers" for the sole purpose of making her a person of interest. If she didn't have these "powers", then Takasugi wouldn't have taken interest in her, and Book 5 wouldn't have had any conflict. But overall, Kyoko's powers really have no effect on the story, do they? They kind of feel like something that comes out of nowhere, and ends up meaning nothing. And that's pretty much exactly what they are. However, if I do plan on writing that sequel story I mentioned, then that's where I'll explain things more and make the "powers" more prevalent. Also, sorry for the mouthful, but I felt like I should explain it…somewhat XD

I guess that's it for now. Please feel free to leave a review with your thoughts on the chapter and please look forward to the next one! Thank you! See you next time!