And here's chapter 3!

Eleven hours

Gin realized belatedly that he'd been in a strange state of limbo verging on sleep when he sat up, gasping from dreaming he was falling off the floating boats of the Benizakura conflict. This time there was no Zura and no Elizabeth parachute.

As he focused on controlling his breathing and not feeling like he was going to throw up, he registered—to his mild surprise—that Shinpachi and Kagura were still awake. How long had he been asleep?

He felt strong hands holding him up as his vision blurred. His body had started shaking. He wasn't sure if it was Kagura or Shinpachi holding him up at this point.

"Gin-san, it's worse, isn't it?" It was Shinpachi. Of course it was worse, it certainly wasn't going to get any better. He felt another spark of panic, sharp like the ravenous hunger in his stomach, as he realized how mutated his thoughts were becoming, how difficult it was to keep himself in check. Gin bit his tongue. If he spoke to them like that…he shuddered to even think about it.

"Yeah, Shinpachi-kun, it's worse," he breathed. His vision had cleared again by now. Two faces scrunched in confusion while Gin decided if the room was slanting or it was just him.

"Gin-san," Shinpachi finally said in a sharp voice. "You're slurring your words like you're drunk. That's another symptom, isn't?"

Gin shook his head. "It's a symptom but only for severe cases." He'd never gotten that bad. "I'm not slurring."

Kagura grabbed his hand, which had a constant tremor. He grip was almost painfully tight but stopped the tremor so he didn't try to pull away, even in his slightly disoriented state.

"Gin-chan, you're definitely slurring! What's going to happen if we can't get you out of here soon? Will you die?" Her voice quickened as she spoke like a rush of a waterfall. Her last question felt a lot like hitting the rocks below to Gin.

Shinpachi tried to cut her off by covering her mouth but it was too late. Gin trembled involuntarily, shining with sweat and dizzy, thinking about how to answer her question. Another swing of emotion hit him. A bright, candy-flavored panic. How could he be feeling happiness of all things? He chuckled. Then giggled because the idea of a samurai dying from something like this, in a bank vault, was unthinkable. He could feel his blood sugar plummeting, though. He'd been able to endure, but it was getting harder and harder, and every hour into his attack, he felt like he was losing more himself. Getting closer and closer to insulin shock. It was absolutely ridiculous. Utterly laughable.

Okay, so he was slurring, and his emotions were warping into something else. He was pretty sure he was grinning like a maniac. Gin managed to stop and drew careful breaths over his glucose starved body. This was the lamest way to die in the history of anything. But who said he was going to die?

He decided on what to say. "Kagura-chan, Shinpachi-kun. I'll start acting different soon. Not like myself. I may be aggressive or irritable or depressed or panicked but it's not me, it's just the episode. If I say something that scares you, don't believe me—Ignore me. We'll get out of this situation." How was it that he could whole-heartedly believe what he told his companions while he said it, but doubt it entirely when he looked in their eyes?

Kagura teared up. "You're scaring me right now, can I not believe you now?"

Gin thought about it. "No. Starting now." A tremor ran through his spine and he groaned in sick misery. What had caused such a powerful and quickly-onset attack? He'd gone longer than this with physical strain and without food before with nothing more than some dizziness and irritability. Was it just bad luck this time around?

Thirteen hours

Hijikata, Kondo and Sougo sat, waiting for a meeting with the Commander. It had been slow-going, as official permissions so often were, but they'd finally gotten audience with the powerful man and with luck, were going to be granted permission to engage against the violent Amanto group.

"How much do you want to bet Yorozuya and those kids are already knee-deep in this?" Hijikata said, inhaling in smoke from his cigarette.

"I hope Boss leaves some for us. I've been in a murdery mood all day." Sougo added. Hijikata just sighed.

"Knowing him, there won't be."

Can't decide which to include more, Katsura or Toshiro? Review and let me know!