Author's Note: It's been so long, not much can be said as an excuse but my connection is absurd as ever. Well despite of that, I can only say that this is something I can call Progress.
(I don't own Gintama)
Chapter 2
What happen if you corner two lazy people together? Progress!
"What are you guys looking at?" The woman in question ask with annoyed face because Kondo, Hijikata and Sougo keep staring at her like some kind of new attraction in a zoo. The three of them still cannot wipe their surprised face.
"Ah well, we just curious, what your business in here at this early of morning?" Kondo is trying to be polite. The woman answers him with a confused face, but soon changes into a small smile.
"You said last night that I could stay at the nearby room for the rest. Did you forget, Commander Kondo-san?" Hearing that answer, Kondo is suddenly startled back because the realization.
"A-a-ameno-san?"
"Yep, that's me." Mizuki answers while scrubbing her messy head.
"It's impossible, Ameno-san is a gentle woman who has a delicate manner. And even if the author forgot to mention this at start and possibly avoided this topic. Ameno-san has a small chest!" Kondo states clearly as he points at Mizuki's chest.
"Oh this, I bind them since that lump of fats keep hindering my work. They have no use in the first place and I want to get rid of them since long." Mizuki answers while looking at her own chest with a disgusted eyes. From her movement, she definitely feel it swings around uncomfortably.
"Oi, I don't care if you suddenly become your another personality over the night. Are you the one who took Matsudaira-san?" Hijikata steps up and interrogates her with a suspicious eye. He remembers clearly what she said yesterday and there is possibility that she made him to sleep in the bath. It sounds weird if you suddenly fall asleep on a bath right?
"I only have one personality, didn't I warn you before. And about the old man? Isn't he on the other room, he won't wake up till the noon though." Mizuki answers before she yawns through her way out of the room.
"Wait! Pops isn't there anymore, he has gone missing now. We are in screwed in situation and in need of your help Ameno-san. Do you remember anything from the last night Ameno-san?" Kondo tries to hold Mizuki.
"I…"
"Kondo-san there are some people who want to see you right now. They say, it's an urgent business about the Pops. Didn't Pops come here last night?"
Suddenly a member of Shinshengumi rushes in, cutting Mizuki's answer. Kondo's face is suddenly changed to plae as sweats breaks from his brow.
"Tell them to wait a moment! Ameno-san you better coming with us to explain the situation." Kondo begs at Mizuki. But as soon as he turns, she has vanished to thin air. She even didn't leave any track to follow. Kondo looks at Hijikata with confused face about what to do.
"They are coming in Kondo-san, Hijikata-san." Sougo says, pointing the sliding door is forcefully opened by two person dressed in a royal police uniform. A badge of Shogunate can be seen hanging on their chest pocket, sign of special force that handled the special cases on nation scale. It is a man and a young girl.
The man is covered by bandage from his toe to his nose and wearing a big round hat that also covers his long blue hair, revealing only his cold blue eyes. His gaze gives off some chilly feeling and he hides both of his hand in a pair of long gauntlets.
The girl has brown skin and a pair of big orange eyes who looks like a cat. Her pinky hair matches with a small blue sailor hat she wears while she wears the rest of her uniform sloppy even lets one of her hands out like a certain samurai.
But both carry some sort of rifles that look like the one Mizuki had on each of their back.
"Welcome, sorry for the mess. What business two of high ranking officer come to here at this early?" Kondo welcomes them and lets them sit.
"Sorry for the sudden intrusion, we are here because a direct order from the Police Council and we don't have much time. By the way the name is Io." The man whose name Io immediately takes a seat while introducing his name.
"And I am Naiki Shinamura his partner, nice to meet you." The girl follows with a high-pitched voice.
"And what do you mean exactly by direct order of Police Council? it is the first time I hear of the name." Kondo answers with another question. Besides him Hijikata and Sougo takes place and carefully observes the two.
"Yes because it is only created this morning, when suddenly all contact with the chief of Police, Matsudaira-sama vanished. Because that a hole has been created in Police chains of command and we are forced to make a council that will temporary take cares of all of Matsudaira' order in this grim time. One of its order is to find Matsudaira-sama, death or alive." Io explains the situation.
"That's pretty fast for the complicated bureaucratic police Edo had." Kondo states his surprise. Usually it takes another week or a month to make something like council because so many factions that exist within the police force.
"It was a plan that Matsudaira-sama suggested himself. So it has expected with the dangerous situation around and in addition not so many higher-ups left in the police." Io answers with a sarcastic tone, "Putting all that aside, the last report of Matsudaira-sama where about said that he was visiting Shinshengum's place last night for personal business. So is he here right now?" Facing with a direct question, Kondo smiles as he tries his best to come up with a logical answer. Io slowly starts to scan the room while waiting for Kondo's answer.
"W-well Pops h-had l-left this place at the s-same night yesterday."
"Don't try to lie old man, your face is showing it all. He isn't here right?" Naiki smiles to cold-sweated Kondo.
"I am not lying, I-I just didn't have the answer you seek. B-but that doesn't mean I'm lying. I just need time because this is just an early morning and I haven't had breakfast. So I cannot think right, Yeah that's right the lack of nutrition is a fatal flaw in the morning."
Kondo defends himself with any blunder to re-direct the conversation. Hijikata sees his pain and tries to help him.
"Well, you two probably didn't have anything for the breakfast too. Why don't you join us at Cafeteria?" Hijikata proposes to them, but meet with Kondo's stinging gaze, signaling his wishes to HIjikata.
Why are you inviting them? I have no more ways to get them out now.
Hijikata gazes back.
It's better to have them under our surveillance than let them roaming free Kondo-san.
Kondo stares more intensively.
It's my head we are talking about if they find out Pops is missing. How can we prevent them from finding that?
That's what I am thinking right now!
HIjikata-san!
What?
I am hungry, can I go to Cafeteria first?
Damnit Sougo! Stay out of this!
"That's quite some intriguing things you guys are talking about. I wonder if I can join in? You know what the risk if you trying anything weird against us the official. The executioner is idle at the moment" Naiki says as she swirls his pink hair around playfully. Kondo and Hijikata breaks their staring contest and turn their attention on their opposition once again. Io clears his throat before speaking after Naiki.
"I am still waiting for my answer."
"Hahahahah, Of course we know." Kondo gulps his own words while his sweats covers all of his face. Hijikata signals him to calm down, while Sougo prepares his swords under the table. He presences a threatening aura coming out from the Io's silent eyes.
"Stop it, Nai-chan. You don't have to pressure Kondo-san further. You already know the answer right?"
Mizuki's usual voice comes from behind the door behind the trio Shinshengumi. Naiki's expression immediately changes from triumphant to annoyed face. Although that she still tries to smile.
"Cih, what are you doing here ghost girl?"
"Same to you Nai-chan, since when you have become an official? If memories reserve, I remember you are still failing to graduate from the training class." Mizuki answers as she enters the room with yesterday Kimono and attitude. She looks at unamused Naiki with a calm manner.
"I don't know what you are talking about. I have graduated long before you even know it Mizuki." Naiki's smiles twitches a little hearing Mizuki's sarcasm.
"That's some exaggeration and don't forget to add senpai because I still your superior from class."
"Shut up! I have now a better position than you could ever achieved ghost girl! I heard you ended up joining a crude of useless dog police, it suits you well. But I didn't think it was here all along." Naiki angrily pointing at Mizuki.
"Hmmm, better than someone who cannot grow a pair." Mizuki continues to provoke, her eyes tilts down to the flat area she means. Naiki's face turns fast to red until she finally explodes.
"YOU….. MHMHMHMHM!"
Io skillfully holds Naiki's mouth and her body before she rises to start a fight. He then quietly stands up and bows against Kondo while still holding Naiki up.
"Pardon me for her attitude, she's still new to all this official's business and as Mizuki said we know that he isn't here. So we will excuse us now to find him, if you have any clue, please share with us."
"It's okay. It's kind of hard to say, but we too have no clue where Matsudaira-san had gone to." Kondo bows back to Io.
"That's unfortunate because it states in our document to punish some dogs who can't even protect one of his master's favorites. My suggestion, please be careful on the streets, no one will know what will happen under the cover of the rain." Io leaves with his warning stab into the Shinshengumi. They know well what that means.
"That means we are going back to kick all of your asses if you can't find Matsudaira-sama!" Naiki finally breaks from Io's hand and spews her last words before being silent again by Io's fist.
"Once again, I hope we may meet again in the near future."
Io then leaves by closing the door behind him and walks slowly to the entrance. After confirming the sounds of entrance's door. Mizuki bows down and apologizes to Kondo.
"She still a little annoying bitch as usual. Sorry if my former comrade cause troubles for you." Mizuki lets out also a tiresome sigh. Her voice back to the Mizuki's this morning
"You really are Ameno-san from the morning. Is it how usually you acting between work and home? I am surprised, you can change so quickly from one to another." Sougo asks curiously.
"It's only around the so-called official. It's tiresome to maintain this high pitched voice. But this clothes help me the most. It conceals the unnecessary meat and gives the aura that I want."
"So it basically you became a sarcastic cold woman when you are in that clothes and a lazy bum when you wear another clothes?" Sougo is still curious.
"Yes it appears so."
"Well what happen if you wear your Kimono half and another clothes half."
"Sougo, there is no way she will be able to wear that long Kimono with other clothes too." Kondo-san answers Sougo's curiosity.
"Hmm, I may have to try that idea myself. I never think about it before."
"What? You will try it? Really?" Kondo asks with a surprised face.
"Of course not now Kondo-san. Perhaps later in somewhere private."
"Yeah I think so, but do you think it is okay to share this secret of yours before us. Don't misunderstand though, we appreciate your openness. Miss Ameno." Kondo still can't get out from the formality tone.
"I don't think any harm will come if I am sharing something like this, isn't that what Shinshengumi is, Hijikata-san?" Mizuki turns his attention to Hijikata.
Hijikata who just lights up his smoke, answers as he blows out a white smoke to outside.
"Is this the thing that supposes to make me surprised?"
"Well it works well in the morning, same trick won't work twice against a demon I guess."
"That's right, I forget to capture Hijikata hysterical face from this morning, a pity." Sougo says as he claps his hand together with a slight depression.
"Don't worry I took plenty of pictures already." Mizuki answers Sougo's expectation and throws a few copies to the ground near Sougo.
"I see you in new light now, comrade Ameno-san." Sougo answers back while he gathers Hijikata's funny photo together, There is a short chuckle between each photos.
"Please drop the san. It makes me a little irritated to hear it from my name. You can call Mizuki if you want. We will be together so I suggest doing in from now before it gets awkward."
"Who says you can't take my photo without my consent!" Hijikata snaps a little and tries to take the photos from Sougo. But Sougo dodges every strike from Hijikata while still collecting the rest on the floor.
"It is said here in my new guide book that Kondo-san gave me last night. The last article 'If someone successfully make the rigid demonic vice-commander Hijikata Toshiro screams or makes a good expression. One must take that picture of him as many as possible.' " Mizuki gives out the answer by pointing a paragraph on the Shinshengumi's code book. A black book with Shinshengumi's symbol on its cover.
"The hell! Who wrote that there! "
Sougo gives Hijikata who is still chasing him a peace sign with a pen on his other hand.
"SOUGO!... ACHOO!" While screaming on top of his lung, Hijkata sneezes hard enough to make a big drop of liquid coming out from his nose. A red strip quickly shows on his face and his eyes gets sleepy.
"Say Hijikata, do you catch a cold?" Kondo asks worrying about Hijikata's condition.
"I...m f-fine." Hijikata answers before he collapses to the floor from a fever.
The sun shines brightly right above the head as the weathercast predicted. They are still the only one who believes that today will be sunny all day along despite the humid season. Well it didn't do anything against the lively Edo streets. Especially The streets of kabuki-chou, they are packed as usual with all kind of people with their own activities. From Yakuza to Okama or just an ordinary citizen, this district is famous about its diversity and color of its people.
And between such a unique crowds, two people of different genders walk leisurely as if this is their long day off. Sougo looks at Mizuki with his blue round eyes, before starting the conversation because he is simply bored.
"Oi shouldn't we walk faster, Kondo-san's live at stakes here. He is even too afraid to leave his own room after that threatening from your friends."
"He appears to be fine." Mizuki answers short.
"Yes until he sees a bullet passing his eyes when he is just going to nearby Toilet. He quickly holed up in his room and ordered us to this investigation."
"Then I can say the same to you, you walk at the same speed and yawn every five minutes."
*Yawn "Can't be helped it is my nap time and it is boring without Hijikata-san to play around." Sougo answers back with sleepy eyes.
"Hijikata-san is on bed rest as we speak now. Who knows what made him spend the entire night on the bath after soaked by the yesterday rain." Mizuki explains Hijikata's situation, "You seems had a rather unique bond with Hijikata-san, Okita-san."
"Please drop the san too, it's annoying that you can call other with -san but others cannot. You can call me anything you like outside the formality. And, do you have something against Hijikata, Mizuki? He seems continues to reject you on our ranks."
"There is a charm into it, but I leave it to your imagination on how you want to call me or HIjikata-san's matter. Thank you for using the name I suggest."
"Oh yeah, back to this morning, are the two of them really your friends Mizuki, you seems have something when you said former comrade." Sougo asks, starting new topic.
"Before joining the police force under the old man, I was a sniper in training with them for a few months. I guess when you spent enough time, even with an annoying person, you will automatically recognize and be recognized by them." Mizuki explains without a change on her expression.
"And by the looks of it, they aren't human right?"
"Yes, they are Amanto."
"Oh, what happens to the police force now? Did they desperately in need of sniper, so they even went to Amanto?"
"They are raised here on earth if you worry about their loyalty." Mizuki answers to Sougo's word of worry.
"Not that I care, I am not that patriotic like you think of. I just it's unheard for the higher-ups like Pops to adopt Amanto to the human police. It's something that even Shogunate don't even think of." Sougo answers as he stretches his hand up.
"My occupations are still rare after all and those who had it often a weirdoo. By the way I am feeling sleepy too and this Kimono is seriously hot. How about some good naps, any idea of place?" Mizuki turns back her face at Sougo and asks seriously.
"Ooo, that's a good idea, yes actually there is a place that I want to visit in this kind of time. But you probably cannot sleep with that hot Kimono of yours."
"Don't worry it supposes to be hot because there is a little surprise that I always prepared beforehand."
"I see, then let's go to central park. It's only straight line from here."
"Hmm I recommend another way, perhaps through the left alleys than turn around in order to avoid sun." Mizuki stops at her walk to consulate the way.
"There is a construction on that road. If you want to avoid sun that badly, we can take the right alley, straight through the marketplace and gets out behind the trees." Sougo points out at the alleys that Mizuki talks about.
"As expected of Sniper Sougo 13. You know well this area."
"It's only because you must have many roads to avoid detection of certain demon. Let's just go anyway, I'm feeling sleepy already." Sougo continues his steps to the right alleys before yawning once again. Mizuki follows silently behind him.
Both of them then walk through the way Sougo's suggest. The alleys is dark and narrow, but they end up in the park quickly without incident. The park before them looks crowded as usual with children and their parents. Some are playing in nearby the sand pit and others are playing by the slide, while their parents talks to each other about the latest hot gossip of Kabuki-chou.
But Sougo has already known where the perfect spot for sleep, there is a pair of bench that locates in an isolated location, far from the playground and is hidden by trees and bushes. It's his usual spot for slacking off the patrol. He leads both of them to that place.
"Here is it, you better get on it quickly because for some reason that plump-head samurai aren't here to occupy the other benches." Sougo instructs her.
"Don't worry I have occupied this place."
Mizuki has already lied down with a white familiar blanket, but not on the bench Sougo points. She is sleeping on Sougo's favorite bench.
"Hey that's my space and my blanket. From where do you know I hid it there? Are you a spy? Are you a dog or are you a thief?" Sougo asks with an annoyed face keep poking Mizuki who is sleeping on other side.
"Well you and the samurai, you are talking about, are better at competing with each other. You boys were always fight to rob each of your own place, weren't you? So I did what a hopeless woman like me would do, what seems to be the problem?"
SRING!
"Just get out of my place, woman." Sougo threatens Mizuki with his sword. His sword is already unsheathed and pointing at her head. There is a dark aura coming out from Sougo's face, his eye narrows his stares directly to the still uncaring Mizuki who gives him only her back.
"Oh, and what happen if your precious place get slashed by an unfortunate incident."
"Then I will have you licked it until it repairs itself. I have regret now, not letting a dog lick my feet. But it's better to you to move around before the last thing you licked is my bloody sword Mizuki."
"And I thought a respectable gentleman will never hurt woman. It was a test, you know?"
"Interesting how about my score? Did I get a full mark?" Without a further warning Sougo swings his sword and makes a perfect horizontal trail without scratching the bench.
But all he slashed is just an empty gust of wind. He looks up just in time for Mizuki to push her rifle directly to his forehead. She has already him at her iron sight while she balances herself to just to sits on the very edge of the bench.
"Not bad, honestly I expect more from Pops men." He compliments Mizuki sarcastically.
"Woman if I want to correct you, why everybody insist on calling me a henchman. Didn't they know a word of henchwoman exists in dictionary?"
"Well, in the first place you should buy a dictionary first to check. Have you ever showed it to a man? I can recommend a good bookshop if you want. But for now, I always want to compare who's faster by the nature, a sword or your little new thing that called gun." Sougo prepares himself for a swift strike by posing his sword near his hips. He is smilling against Mizuki who follows his movement quietly with her rifle still plants on Sougo's forehead.
"I honestly don't care who's faster."
DOOOOR!BLAARRR!
A thunder flashes from the sky, signaling incoming rain as the humid rises .The sunny sky that was clear before, now suddenly full of dark clouds that produces an ominous feeling. People have begun to seek shelter or their nearest umbrella. The park quickly empties itself as the worrisome parents drag their crying children who still want to play back to home.
The two figures still stands at their place quietly. Darkened by the shadow of the cloud, Both of them look to the sky and holds their weapon down. They both let a deep sigh.
"Let's just stop, I'm no mood for close fighting on the rain." Mizuki suggest as she puts her rifle back to its bag.
"It will be quite slippery and you can get a cold like a certain idiot. Pity, I thought for the moment there I heard a gunfire. I almost accidentally slash you if I didn't see your curious face facing up to the thunder who is the source." Sougo agrees and sheaths back his sword.
"Indeed you are right, under the thunderclap, a shot was fired." Mizuki answers as she points to a place behind Sougo's back. Sougo's turns back to see a bloody incident has taken place there.
Near another benches, a man wearing the official detective uniform from Shogunate is lying lifelessly on a ground. Fresh red blood streams constantly from his body and is washed away by the rain. Near him, A mother who's probably been investigated by him falls on her knee, shocked by the incident. Her mouth gasp for the air as her baby is crying on her hands.
But Sougo hears no sounds at all from his distance as everything is covered by the rain. He quickly turns back with a great suspicion on Mizuki. Mizuki stares at him back, knowing what his intention is as Sougo holds his hilt of his sword tightly.
"It's not me, I even didn't aware of his presence. He must be quite far from here." She says to calm him down before another shot flashes through the park. Sougo turns away once again to see the mother stares to him with a rounded-eyes. She is probably just aware that Sougo was there. She desperately reaches her arms out before drop silent on the ground. With her, the crying baby falls silent now as well. Another two blood rivers stream down beneath the rain. Sougo prepares to run for it.
"Be careful, I know what you are thinking. But it is the best to stay at your ground. Don't you think he or she shot her because you haven't seen? He or she is still on the scope." Mizuki warns Sougo before he can move. Sougo grinds his teeth, he wants to run as fast as possible and kill whoever did this in front of his eyes.
KRAAAAWWW
A sudden voice tightens Sougo's guard and steals his attention. He quickly faces the voice source.
A single crow flies away from the nearby tree, omitting a bad aura. Its feather is painted with Strange dark purple that doesn't dissolve under the rain. Its loud voice echoes loud enough to shatter the sounds of rain that deafens the voice of murder scene.
"Teru…hiko…?"
To be Continued
I know it feels like it's rushed and there are many things that are just bluntly stated by the characters. And also as weird as it looks, I try some new ways to write in there, it's obvious from the title. But I didn't get there yet.
I don't know who still read this, but I appreciate everyone who even just came here and read the title.
