"The Green Markhors." Hijikata smacked his hand atop a logo made up of curling horns painted green, "They've been responsible for the spike in thefts across the country and it's our job to find them and put them to justice." His hand curled into a fist across the picture before dropping slowly to his side.
Sougo blinked one eye open, assessing the room with disinterest before closing his eye again. Hijikata was always so boring in briefings.
"We don't know who their leader is or know enough to determine any kind of pattern for them but we do have reported sightings of them hanging out at the ports in one of those abandoned warehouses."
Sougo snapped awake.
"How are there always just 'abandoned warehouses' lying around so conveniently all the time!" A new recruit yelled out.
Beside him, Yamazaki sighed, "Blame rising business taxes. It's pushing all the small guys out."
This immediately prompted an argument about the effectiveness of taxes and sticking it to the rich guy before Hijikata lost his temper, pulling out his sword in a striking crescent and sending it flying across the room so it landed squarely in the centre of the wall. All eyes turned on him and someone may have shrieked but that was against the Shinsengumi way so no one commented. "Listen you sorry excuses for officers-" His blood pressure rose to dangerous levels before Sougo interrupted him, the epitome of enthusiasm and professionalism.
"I'll look into it Hijikata-san. I'll catch all of those no good gangsters." Sougo knew he had Hijikata on edge because the eagerness oozing out of him was unnatural right to the core.
Silently, he hoped the stress would distract his boss from suspecting anything, but as usual, Hijikata never knew when to quit. "Hah? You want to volunteer to scope it out?" Hijikata glared. "Why."
Faking innocence, Sougo pointed to Kondo, "I want to be like Kondo-san, he's the best officer I know." And from the tears welling up in his hero's eyes he knew he had won.
"SOUGO!" Kondo wailed, "Toshi look! We finally did it! We raised a good son!" Kondo's arms wrapped around Hijikata's shoulders as he buried his snotty nose into him.
Horrified, Hijikata tried to no avail to shake him off before surrendering to his fate and cursing his life. "I never agreed to have such a shitty son." He muttered instead.
Sougo grinned, wide and fake and utterly sadistic, "Then the task is mine?"
Hijikata scowled, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette. Damn he needed a break. "Fine." He gritted his teeth, "But if I find out-"
"Don't worry Hijikata-san, I know you're just insecure everyone'll find out I'm a better cop than you and replace you with me. But don't worry, I'll vouch for you."
As the meeting continued on and everyone's tasks were assigned, Sougo let out a tense breath. That was super close. When he found those gangsters, he'd make them regret ever messing with him and his future weapons collection. Something dark crackled in his eyes as he thought of all the ways he'd punish them. The Green-Whatever-They're-Names-Are were gonna get it.
On the other side of town, Gin was staring at Shinpachi suspiciously. "Is that the new Otsu CD Pachi-boy?" He asked, looking suspiciously curious.
Cautious, Shinpachi adjusted his CD player in his hands. "You know I have to buy at least four copies of every CD when they come out Gin-san. One for listening, one for storage, one for looking-"
"And one for selling later, I know." Gin waved his hand in the hair dismissively, "But you have no money. I should know. I haven't paid you two in weeks." His dead fish eyes stared intently into Shinpachi's own.
Unable to bear the pressure, he snapped his head away, looking down, fiddling with a stray thread. Another second and he might've just cracked, but Kagura, in all her blazing glory, lugged a stray Jump comic at Gin's head like a missile. "Don't be proud of that you lazy madao!" She hollered, alight with righteous fury.
"Hey! Don't throw things at your dad young lady, you'll make mama cry again!"
"Hey! I don't cry over you two!" Shinpachi defended, only to realize what he'd just inadvertently admitted, throwing his head into his hands and groaning.
Kagura chortled, pointing, "Hah! Loser!"
"Shut up!" Shinpachi yelled tossing a pillow in her direction, which led to her jumping behind the couch, flipping it over for maximum defense and drama.
"This means war!" Kagura cried, throwing as many things as she could at the two boys.
"Man down!" Gin cried, clutching at his heart as a teddy bear socked him.
"He's not down until he's dead!" Shinpachi cried, tossing the remote and the lamp for good measure.
When all nearby objects had been thrown and half their belongings scattered or cracked in some way, the three of them collapsed on the floor, heaving for breath, wide smiles across their faces. In the tired silence, Gin's stomach growled. "Oy, Shinpachi, since you're rich now, go buy us dinner."
"I left noodles in the fridge. Kagura-chan and I are going to go hang out with some friends now. So see you tomorrow Gin-san!"
Gin turned his head, "Friends? What friends? You two just hang out here all day."
"Hey! I have friends, yes! I'm the most popular person I know!" Kagura yelled, jumping up to her feet to fish out her umbrella from between the cushions.
"It's not like you have the time to train us, so we're training with Okita-san!" Shinpachi babbled, cringing at the stupidity, though it wasn't really a lie if you thought about it.
"Those tax robbers are no good I tell you. No good!"
"Bye Gin-chan!" Kagura chirped, tugging Shinpachi by the sleeve.
As the apartment settled into silence, Gin stared up at the ceiling. Something was up. But then he yawned and felt his eyes flutter shut. Ehh, they weren't babies. It really wasn't any of his business.
"GOOOOOOOOD EVENING KABUCHIKO!" Shinpachi roared into the mike, reveling in the cheers from the crowd.
"We've heard your suggestions and tallied up the totals. Today's three challenges are verrrrrrryy exciting! Today, we have a special treat from one particularly creative contributor so let's hear some noise! First challenge today is no hands for Kagura and no leg attacks from Sougo! Contestants, take your places!"
Kagura frowned. They decided that, to make it more interesting, they wouldn't hear about the challenges until they were announced to the rest of the crowd. But this one was just stupid. She couldn't defend from above though all of Sougo's attacks would be aimed there and likewise for the idiot sadist. Scowling, she felt pleased only at the nearly imperceptible tick of Sougo's brow signalling his distaste as well. Shinpachi counted down and the second he gave the signal, Kagura launched from her spot, hands behind her back.
Sougo eyed her, rocking on the balls of his feet ready to launch away from any attacks, but Kagura had other ideas. She was going to win this in thirty seconds. Running at him, she screamed, soaring into the air so she could wrap her legs around his neck and send him crashing to the floor. Blacking out for a second, Sougo blinked into consciousness just to see Kagura ramming her forehead into his. Recognizing her intent to knock him out and end it all, he quickly brought his forearms up into an X, halting her attack but bruising his arms. Howling, Kagura whipped back, squeezing her knees against his neck.
Feeling the sadism bubble up inside of him, Sougo's hands flew to her head, ripping it to the right as he rolled so that now he had her pinned. With Kagura unable to use her arms and legs currently being sat on, she glared as Sougo's smile glinted. "Hey there China, look at you all docile for me." He licked his lips.
Glowering, Kagura snarled, hurtling upwards like a comet, upper-cutting his jaw with her head. Breath knocked out from him, Sougo stumbled to his feet as Kagura did the same. "You little runt." He spat.
She smirked, though she swayed a little from exertion. "Heh. You're a thousand years too early to challenge me." And she smiled, something like euphoria and adrenaline bursting through her.
They ran at each other again, never the kind of people to think when they could act. Kagura's leg swung out in a powerful kick but that was her weakness as the height of the arc allowed Sougo to swoop underneath and land a punch squarely in her cheek, sending her flying into the ring ropes before she flipped over them.
"HAH! Take that alien brat!" He whooped, turning towards Shinpachi victoriously.
"I'll get you!" Kagura yelled back, one fist waving from beneath the ring.
"Round one goes to Sougo!" Shinpachi declared. "After a ten minute break, round two will be a paintball fight! Whoever's the first to get shot loses. Watch an extraordinary battle of dodging and speed!"
The crowd however, was bursting for the surprise third act and watched the battle of agility like you watched commercials before your favourite show's finale. Kagura won the paintball challenge with ease, her Yato blood allowing her to catch the pellets before they could burst, infuriating Sougo to no end but impressing him to the point of madness. There couldn't be anything more attractive than her smug face as she curled the bullet through her fingers. She was impressively agile, and for just a normal guy, Kagura had to concede Sougo put up a fantastic fight.
Her concession went right out the window though when that goddamn dog RIPPED HER OUTFIT. It was mostly by accident sure but still! Tripping on his own and then reaching out to grab her to ease his fall still counts as assault! Harassment even! Stumbling down into the back room, Kagura wailed, clutching at Shinpachi's shirt lapels. "Pachi-boyyyyy, my cloooothes!"
Placating expression, Shinpachi patted her on the shoulder, "There, there Kagura-chan, it's alright. I thought this might happen so I picked up something I thought would suit the mood in advance."
Rummaging through some boxes, he pulled out something Kagura thought had long since disappeared. "Is that my Yoshiwara disguise?" Confused and befuddled.
"I keep all our disguises." Shinpachi defended, "We can't keep spending money on them you know!" He asserted, shoving the clothes into her hands.
"Put these on, and then we'll start the next fight okay?"
"Kayyy."
Still in the ring, Sougo looked bored as he sipped from his water bottle idly. He wondered what the third challenge was going to be before deciding it didn't matter because he was going to win no matter what.
And then Kagura walked out the back room and his heart had a spasm while the rest of him went red hot with want. Who allowed her to walk out like that? Was the glasses stand crazy? He was crazy. Absolutely batshit crazy. (or maybe he was crazy because he wanted to run up to her and just-)
Kagura pulled at the hem of her kimono, fiddling with the sash. She glanced up, catching Sougo's wide eyed stare and stuck out her tongue. Knowing he would burst at any second Sougo dumped the entirety of the bottle's contents atop his head. "Hey you wet dog! Go make a mess somewhere else!" Kagura shouted, hands at her hips and lips doing that fantastically adorable snarl that he loved.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Across from him, Shinpachi smirked. "See something interesting Okita-san?"
The glare Sougo sent his way would have made a lesser man cower, but Shinpachi just kept on grinning. Sougo was going to kill him. A slow, gruesome, torturous death.
Really.
So despite Gin saying he didn't care. He somehow found himself at the bar, a glass of something or other in his hands as he swirled the brown liquid around. "Who gave those brats permission to grow up and leave the nest?" He bemoaned, "You feed them and take care of them and suddenly they're never home and neglecting poor Gin-san like he doesn't even matter."
Next to him, Hijikata looked on in disgust. "You're pathetic. They're just training with Sougo. You should be proud they're taking some responsibility instead of taking on after you."
Gin glared, though it came out somewhat tipsy, "H-Hey. It's all your stupid kid's fault. That Souichiro, he's no go-hic!- no good!"
Hijikata rolled his eyes, "I've been saying that for years."
"He's a bad influence! A bad influence!"
Hijikata sighed. "Relax you overprotective perm. Sougo may be a sadist, but he's a good kid deep down. I'm glad he's getting out. He should make some friends his own age." Cheeks heating up a little at the kind of care that implied, Hijikata gulped down a huge shot of mayonnaise, "Not that I care or anything."
As Gin continued to sulk, Hijikata patted him on the arm somewhat awkwardly. "At least glasses is with them. He's responsible."
"He's a good kid that Shinpachi, the kind of friend you feel safe letting your kid hang out with after school. The kind your mother says no to hanging out until you tell her he's coming and then she goes, oh of course you can go out! Send my love!" Gin's head flopped onto the counter, passed right out.
Sighing some more, Hijikata lit up a cigarette. "There's no such thing as a kid not up to no good."
"Alright everyone, the round you've all been waiting for. Today, we have a special challenge. Someone here thinks they can take on our legendary Yato warrior and our lethal police officer all on their own." The crowd went quiet before a wave of laughter spread like a contagion.
"Idiot! There's no way you can beat two monsters like that!" Someone jeered.
Rubbing blood from his mouth, Sougo peered into the crowd, curious over which moron with a death wish would dare challenge the two beasts of Edo. The crowd parted like the dead sea as a tall figure built like a mountain walked slowly up to the ring. Kagura shook her head. It was always the big guys who thought muscle was the key to everything. "Hey, you know size doesn't matter right!" She taunted. "It's about finesse, yes!"
Sougo choked.
"China, do you even know what you're implying."
"What?" She asked, cocking her head.
"If I win, I want all of today's winnings." The man said, grabbing the microphone from Shinpachi.
"Huhh? No way! That makes no sense!" Shinpachi protested.
"You're that unconfident in your fighters?" The man asked.
All riled up, Kagura's hands flew to her hips. "I've been in two fights already today and I could still beat you all on my own. You want all the money? Fine."
"China-" Sougo tried to intervene but Kagura shot him a glare.
Sougo sighed. Oh the things he'd do. "Fine. We'll give you today's winnings if you can knock us both out or get us both out the ring."
The man grinned, something malicious in his eyes. "Perfect."
Flabbergasted, Shinpachi pulled himself together, deciding to trust in his friends. "C-can we at least get some background information?"
The man grunted. "Shinzo. Thirty-two. Master in five martial arts." Tossing the microphone back into Shinpachi's hands, Shinzo flipped over the ring ropes, landing with a thud.
He beckoned the two over, a demeaning smile on his face.
Sougo and Kagura exchanged looks. Separate, the two were ferocious. Sharp and dazzling and lethal. But melded together like steel in a forge… Electricity swooped through Sougo's body, a wide smirk edging on mania stretching across his face. Kagura laughed, short and booming. "Come on Shinzo, catch these hands." Shinpachi cried start and Shinzo pulled out a baton that extended into a bo staff.
"Tch. Cheater." Kagura muttered.
"Oh, scared China?" Sougo taunted, watching Shinzo twirl his bo with disinterest.
"Hah. No way, yes. I'm gonna punch that cocky bastard into the ground." And she turned to him and snickered, looking cute and dangerous all at once. Something warm and smitten beat inside of him before he turned away quickly, flicking her in the forehead and rushing at Shinzo in a daze.
Shinzo swung his bo but confused and crazed, Sougo's bloodlust tripled. He caught the staff in its path, pushing down on it and using it as leverage to swoop his leg up into Shinzo's side. Coughing, the man pulled back his bo, throwing a punch at Sougo's face who deftly dodged it and threw one of his own. Shinzo ducked as he evaded Sougo's punch, exposing his back and revealing a green tattoo of twisting horns. Shinpachi's brows furrowed, he had seen that somewhere else before...His attention was quickly distracted however by Shinzo yelling as he blocked an incoming attack with his bo, spinning around to meet Kagura's barrage of fists with a swirl of his weapon, creating a shield that even her speed couldn't penetrate. Narrowing her eyes, Kagura focused, before landing a punch straight into the stick itself, shattering it.
Blood spurted from the cuts in her palm and she brought it to her mouth, spitting a splinter out. Mockingly, she curled her hand in a beckoning gesture. "Come on old man."
Sougo's heart beat and determined not to be outdone- and not be distracted by Kagura's outfit but that was a whole different issue- he grabbed the two bo halves and twirled them experimentally. "These will do." He nodded.
Rushing at him, he swung his makeshift weapons across Shinzo's body, reluctantly giving the man credit for his blocking abilities. But he was not going to be beat. He threw the two sticks into the air, turning his head slightly to make sure Kagura was watching. Launching his knee into Shinzo's chest, he pushed the man back two steps, forcing him to throw up his arms to block as he feinted a double punch. The bo halves fell back down and Sougo caught them both before slamming them against Shinzo's ears knocking him out cold. As the giant crumpled to the ground, Sougo spun around, shoulders drawn back and a lazy grin sprawling across his face.
Kagura flashed him an approving nod. "Not bad sadist. Not as cool as breaking his bo though, yes." She grinned cheekily.
"The guy who knocks the enemy out is always the coolest China brat." He retorted, sticking out his tongue.
The crowd roared its approval as Shinpachi waved at them, declaring Kagura and Sougo to be the winners. "Well there you have it everyone, give it up for our undefeated champions!"
Caught on the high, Kagura grabbed the microphone from her friend. "Listen up losers! In that room right over there is a safe with one hundred thousand dollars! If you can beat the two of us, it's all yours!"
"KAGURA-CHAN!" Shinpachi shrieked as Sougo threw back his head and laughed.
What a girl.
The crowd got louder as a line piled up at the concession stand where Shinpachi had to run to, cursing Kagura's name.
"You know we don't actually have a hundred k right?" Sougo asked, arms clasped behind his head.
"I know. But do you know how much money we're gonna get from this?"
"Glasses hates risks."
She punched him in the shoulder, gentle and happy. "What risk? We're never gonna lose, yes."
Sougo let out an amused breath. "No. Guess not."
From the corner of her eye, Kagura watched as a man with an eye-patch hauled Shinzo off the floor, tossing him in the direction of some other men. The man caught her eye, pulling out a pipe and lighting it slowly. "Good fight kid."
Looking at him, Kagura felt something icky crawl up her spine. "Thank you."
"It's not smart to leave that kind of money just lying around in a place like this though."
Sougo narrowed his eyes. "It's only here for the hype."
The man blew out a puff of smoke. "Don't get too cocky kids, there's all sorts of fighters out there." With another blow of smoke and a seedy stare, the man turned and walked away.
"What a weirdo." Kagura said, locking her arms across her chest.
"Doesn't matter. It's not like we have that much money anyway."
"WHAT" Sougo and Kagura's eyes bugged out their sockets as they shrieked.
"You heard me! We've made one hundred thousand so far!" Shinpachi exclaimed, dollar signs lighting up in his eyes.
"I can't believe this." Sougo fell into his chair looking dazed.
"Sougo, you can keep this at the Shinsengumi headquarters right? That's probably the safest place."
Sougo nodded.
"Great. I was thinking that after Kagura-chan's reckless stunt," Shinpachi took the opportunity to shoot her a look while she averted her eyes whistling, "It might be good publicity if we bought a big safe and just…kept it in front of the ring as motivation."
"There's no way we're just going to leave all that money unattended." Sougo argued, but he was met with Shinpachi's wry grin.
"Don't worry about that at all."
Shinpachi clapped his hands together, "Now let's get cleaning!"
Kagura and Sougo, with their bruises and battered limbs, looked at one another, and promptly passed out asleep.
Hands on his hips, Shinpachi sighed hoping to frown, but smiling a little instead. Popping in Otsu's CD into the stereo, he jammed it out to her bops as he threw a blanket atop his two friends and began cleaning out the warehouse. When the last garbage bag was dumped out to the curb and the two idiots still hadn't awoken, Shinpachi debated between waking them up and decided against it, stepping out to grab a few things and give them a bit more time.
The warehouse was quiet, so quiet it shook Kagura awake, so used to barking and grunting and incessant shrieking and berating. Scrunching her nose a little, she tried to go back to sleep, but found that the inertia had left her. She rubbed her eyes, blinking the haze away to see herself draped with a blanket, Sougo right across from her, looking oddly vulnerable and soft. Her heart hammered in her throat, softly, softly, and then all at once, a giant battering ram. She appreciated Sougo with all his edges, but the gentle slope of his brow and the curve of his cheek in the dim light was nice too. Her fingers reached out across the emptiness before stopping. Sougo murmured something, his lashes fluttering, before falling still again.
There was a feeling of contentedness in her heart right then. Something similar to the feeling she'd get when she was at home and the Yorozuya were all separate but together. Something similar to how she felt when Papi and Kamui were all home at the same time as Mami clapped her hands and sang, Kagura in her lap. Something similar to that feeling of belonging but different. Every colour accentuated, every feeling multiplied ten fold, everything more, more, more. An excitement that was wild and gentle all at once.
Sougo blinked awake, suddenly and completely, and she jolted. "Creep." He stated, blank faced and deadpan.
Normally she would've yelled, but she was too cozy to be angry. "Shut up dog."
Sougo's eyes flickered around, "Where's glasses?"
Kagura glanced around as well, eyes settling on a note a little aways from her head. "Went to get food, don't go home without me Kagura-chan!" She read, grinning a little.
"Foooood." She sang, "Food, food, foooood, yes."
"You're such a monster." Sougo laughed.
"Hush, I'm hungry after all that fighting."
Sougo hummed in agreement, rolling over so he faced her completely. "That guy was an idiot."
"Total idiot, yes. Thinking he could take us on." Kagura stuck her nose in the air.
"We are a good team." Sougo agreed before he even knew he was thinking it.
Kagura's eyes widened just a touch and if something big and aching boomed inside her chest, well, no one needed to know. "I have fun fighting with you." She started slowly, eyes determinately not looking into Sougo's own before something fierce and brave pushed her forward, "But fighting beside you is good too." She finished in a rush.
Sougo dipped his head, his bangs shadowing his eyes. His fingers reached out, poking her in the forehead. "Idiot. It's not like we've ever fought against each other for real."
"Why would we do that?" And her question was so honest, so trusting in the fact that the Shinsengumi and the Yorozuya were more than allies, something deeper and stronger connecting them despite the law and the corruption and the deceit that ran deep throughout the city elite.
Sougo stayed quiet, so was surprised when Kagura giggled, looking at him conspiratorially, "Hey, do you know what Gin-chan did the other day, yes?"
Sougo glanced at her, brow raised. "He got so drunk at Anego's cabaret that he got into a fight with a stranger but then he couldn't see straight so he called the guy an uncivilized gorilla-" at this point, Sougo could see where the story was going and winced in advance, "But it was Anego and she punched him so hard he broke through the wall!" Kagura cackled madly and Sougo couldn't help but grin a little too.
"Danna's an idiot."
"Right? Right?" She chortled, "But not as much as your gorilla, yes."
Sougo snorted, "You have no idea China brat, get this…" And something wonderful bloomed inside of him where he thought his heart had shriveled with every stroke of his murderous sword at how his words made her laugh.
They stayed like that, underneath the covers, giggling about their shenanigans and stupid bosses and Sougo felt like they had found a corner of the universe just for them. He couldn't see past the red strays of her hair or feel beyond the heat that radiated beneath their blanket, a barrier between them and everything else. He thought this was happiness, but different, than every other kind. He wanted to keep it. Grasp onto it with both hands and never let it go. Wanted to bottle up this moment and keep it with him every step he took away from right there.
Kagura's hand waved as she emphasized her story and Sougo caught it easily within his own. Their eyes locked and she sucked him in like a whirlpool. "Oy, China, I-"
The warehouse door burst open, Shinpachi bumbling in, half blinded by the stack of bags he was carrying. "I brought dinner! Rise and shine!"
Sougo dropped her hand like he was burned, throwing himself up with the speed of a viper. Kagura lay still, bringing her hand close to her face, something like a blush on her cheeks. "Kagura-chan, I brought your favourite!"
Swallowing, Kagura stood up slowly, looking at Sougo before they both looked away. "You're late Shinpachi. I'm starving." She said haughtily, not feeling it but forcing it out all the same.
"I don't want to hear that from you. I had to clean all by myself you know!" He set out the takeout plates in the middle of them, handing out cutlery.
Sougo and Kagura sat side by side and if their shoulders brushed as they reached for more spring rolls or if their hands grazed one another's as they set them down, well…
Kagura sucked on bone, a silly smile on her face.
"Good evening everybody! Welcome back to the fighting ring, today we have some fantastic opponents to take on our fighters!" Shinpachi gestured widely behind him, "As always, we have our one hundred thousand dollars in cash prize money."
Kagura and Sougo pulled on the heavy safe handle, swinging it open to reveal piles and piles of bills. Kagura bent down, picking up a stack, flipping through it dramatically. "Which sucker thinks he can win?!"
The crowd cheered aggressively as a woman with green skin and feline eyes swooped up atop the ring, two swords strapped to her back.
Somewhere in the crowd, a man with an eye patch smiled. This was going to be fun.
A/N Woohooo plot is set in motion. So I'm estimating that next chapter is going to be the last, maybe one more after that. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, as always, please favourite or leave a review! Also shout out to Rinfantasy for giving me the idea of adding in the Yoshiwara outfit because it's definitely her cutest look and girl looks fiiiiiiine in it.