Chapter 2
A/N: Sorry for the long wait for this new chapter, I've been having more problems with my scoliosis and also working on another story, The Legend Continues. I hope you enjoy this chapter and the others I've re-written, I'm going to type up and post as much as I have and get back to the story itself as soon as possible. Ja ne!
As they approached the Shimura house where the dojo was, Kagura noticed something quite different. There were people coming and going and there was a sign that said: Shimura Tea House.
"What happened to the dojo?" she asked perplexed.
Shinpachi spoke up and said, "Well Ane-ue couldn't manage to bring back the dojo. Between her and Kondou-san, they figured out that a tea shop could work. They even have the dojo mostly the same and the swords as decorations."
Kagura was about to say something when Otae came outside and saw her.
"Kagura-chan!" she cried as she ran to envelop her friend in a hug.
As they hugged, Gin rolled his eyes but smiled while Shinpachi smiled too.
Before the women could catch up, Kondou shouted from outside, "Otae-chan, where are you?"
Kagura broke from the hug and her face was blank when Otae called, "Out here sweetie!"
"Anego-chan, why did you call Gori that?" she asked her best friend.
"Oh," Otae exclaimed as she covered her mouth with her hand as she realized something, "I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. Isao-kun and I-"
But before she could finish, Kondou came out, put his arm around her and finished, "We got married a year and a half ago!"
Gin's eye twitched and he said, "Great going Gorilla, she didn't know yet. You know nothing about timing huh?"
"Oops!" he exclaimed in embarrassment.
Kagura punched Kondou hard in the face as they all looked on. Once Gin had shaken out of it, he tried to stop her only to be punched by Otae.
"What the hell, Gorilla woman?" the sweets samurai shouted angrily at his friend.
She cracked her knuckles afterwards and said, "Well, I was going to hit Isao-kun but since Kagura-chan did already, I figured I'd hit you."
The fact that Otae said this with a smile on her face, while cracking her knuckles, scared the silver-haired samurai even.
Gin muttered, "Great reasoning as always Otae, you crazy bitch."
"Can you both stop now, Ane-ue and Kagura-chan? You're scaring the guests," Shinpachi pleaded.
They looked and saw many terrified customers watching, wondering if it would get worse.
Before she spoke, Otae punched Kondou one last time then said, "I'm sorry everyone, please continue what you were doing."
It was silent for a minute before everyone went about their business. Kagura smiled as she realized that even though some things had changed, some things would always be the same.
When Kagura went to help Kondou up, he winced and she laughed, "Haha, it's okay Gori. I was just really shocked and a bit mad that you blurted it out is all. It's too bad I missed it."
"Don't worry, we knew you were heading back so we already set everything up," the commander of the Shinsengumi said as he smiled.
She cocked her head to the side in confusion before Otae explained, "We decided to renew our vows so we'll have the ceremony again. This time, you can be in my bridal party! You can also watch our wedding video too."
Kagura hugged Otae and Kondou smiled despite holding his swollen face.
"Hey what's going on out here, Nee-san?" Hijikata asked as he came out of the tea house.
Once Okita and the fukuchou saw Kondou's face, they said in a deadpan tone, "Ah, what did you do this time, Kondou-san?"
Gin laughed and Kagura grinned at that, that was when Okita noticed his rival.
His eyes widened as he questioned, "China? Is that you?"
She scowled at him and said, "Duh it's me super sadist."
Hijikata looked at her and was quite surprised too as he said, "Well, you've changed in nearly three years."
"I would hope Hijikata, you baka," Gin said snarkily.
Eye twitching, the mayora replied, "Well of course Shiroyasha-dono, I meant that she'd grown up a lot. I almost didn't recognize her."
"The punk almost didn't either when he first saw her, baka," Umibozou stated to annoy Gin.
Gin ground his teeth a little as he said, :Who's fault is it, but yours! I still don't know what you've been feeding her because she actually looks like a-a-"
"A woman, danna?" the sadist supplied casually.
Stammering, the sweets samurai responded, "Uh, yeah I guess."
Kagura was a bit perplexed at this reaction from her boss but Umibozou felt like he knew what this meant, as he kept this to himself.
To break the awkward silence, Otae clapped her hands together in front of her and decided, "Alright, let's have some tea and chat. It's on the house!"
They all smiled and went in for tea, and once they all settled in with their tea, they were chatting among themselves.
"So China, been busy?" Hijikata asked as he sipped his tea.
Kagura smiled as she said, "Yeah, Papi and I had to fight a lot of aliens. I've been improving a lot too, so watch out Sadist!"
While she put on a bravado, the young captain rolled his eyes before replying simply, "Bring it on, China."
For a minute, Umibozou was fuming with a tense mark on his temple.
"Punk, I don't like the way those two were looking at my Kagura-chan," the overprotective father whispered to the silver-haired samurai.
Gin sighed and whispered back, "Don't worry, they were just surprised. It's not a big deal, Hage."
He frowned at the nickname but turned back to his tea while Kagura was reminiscing
"Remember when I left? It was great that so many people showed up, I was happy and sad. It was hard leaving," she said as she remembered that farewell.
*Flashback*
Nearly three years ago...
Kagura had come to the terminal with Umibozou, Gintoki, Shinpachi, Sadaharu, Otose, Catherine and Tama to catch the ship that would the father and daughter to their destination. She seemed happy and sad at the same time.
When she looked up at Gin, he put his hand on her head and said simply, "Don't be sad, you're doing what you've been wanting to do for so long. We'll be here when you get back."
Kagura smiled up at him and answered, "Yeah, I just wish everyone could be here to see me off too."
"Who says we didn't?" Otae said as they saw many of their friends gathered outside the terminal with a banner that said, 'See you later, Kagura!'
She grinned and shouted, "Yay, you all came!"
"Hey China, how about one last fight before you go?" Okita teasingly challenged the fifteen year old girl.
The young Yato smirked and said, "Bring it sadist!"
As the two fought, Kondou cheered his young friend on while Otae, Gin, Shinpachi and Umibozou cheered Kagura on. Tsukuyo started reminiscing when she first met Kagura until Kyuubei, Otae, Ayame and all of the others did too.
"I remember when the Yorozuya first came to Yoshiwara...""
"Yeah, when i helped train her and the others to save Elizabeth..."
"My first meeting with Kagura was when she came to take Tae-chan..."
"Kagura-chan found me in the park when I ran away..."
"We met her when we helped the Yorozuya with Kamiko or Sadaharu..."
"I remember we met on that space trip, even if I was sick..."
"Yes, she got trapped on that planet because of your stupidity..."
"Hard to forget that monster girl, since she teamed up with Gin-san and Shinpachi, I've lost more jobs than with just the two of them..."
"We only met because of the former Shogun and all but I liked her since we fought for what we believed. That girl has incredible strength, it's a shame she's leaving..."
"She's crazy and incredibly powerful, even if she is a monster, she saved Sarutobi. Odd as she is, it'll be quieter when she's gone..."
"Kagura-sama found me with Gintoki-sama and has always fought for me and her friends. She will always be courageous and the embodiment of strength. I'll be anticipating your return, Kagura-sama..."
"Leader has always been adventurous despite how I got her and Shinpachi-dono into a bit of trouble along with Gintoki. I will also await your return Leader!"
"We might fight all the time China but I'm glad we met. it might have been crazy; especially with your old man; but I actually have a weird friendship/rivalry with someone around my age. Don't stay away too long, I need someone to fight with..."
"That's odd, Sougo, I agree since you're too preoccupied to attack me when you fight with China. Since I met that girl, oddly enough she's a lot like you but I guess it's not too bad. It would be a little too weird without you three in the Yorozuya around..."
"You're right, China might be crazy but she makes things lively. With her, Sougo has a friend and Shinpachi and Otae-san seem happy. Even Danna is going to miss you but not say anything. Just don't be gone too long China!"
"She's like my little sister I never had and the three of you are just...perfect together. Don't stay away too long, since you joined the Yorozuya after the Punch Perm incident, you've been an integral part and those boys will be lost without you, Kagura-chan!"
"Kagura-chan, when Gin-san first met you and we helped you against the Punch Perm gang, you were rude and acted crazy but that's you. Don't change and come back soon! I can only handle him for so long alone..."
"Well, it's been a year since I first hit you on my scooter. Take care of yourself, brat, you're still a Yorozuya so come back safe. We'll all miss you so don't take too long..."
After everyone said what they had to say, Kagura expressed her farewells to them all. She hugged Tsukuyo, Kyuubei, Otose, Tama, Sadaharu, Soyo, Nobume, Hasegawa, Kondou, Hijikata, Katsura and Elizabeth while she play-punched Catherine and Okita.
Gin chuckled and told her, "Okay, calm down. You need to leave soon okay?"
Suddenly, Kagura felt sorrow seep in again upon remembering her upcoming departure. The last people she hugged were Otae, Shinpachi and Gin and shed some tears at leaving them even for a short time.
"You won't forget about me right?" she questioned through her tears.
Shinpachi responded, "Never, how could we forget the crazy girl who eats us out of house and home?"
"Shin-chan's right, you're unforgettable Kagura-chan. Just come back soon okay?"Otae told the weeping girl through her own tears.
Shinpachi nodded as his own tears escaped at his sister's words.
Gin, who let just a few tears loose, hugged her tighter and said simply, "How could I ever forget the mountain gorilla that I hit with my scooter? I can't forget my family Kagura."
Everyone smiled, some less noticeable than others, as the Sakata family hugged until Sadaharu jumped in on the hug.
Kagura laughed as she said, "Sadaharu wants to hug too. I'll miss you all, Sadaharu, Shinpachi, Anego-chan, everybody even Sadist and Gin-chan!"
Umibozou smiled at all the close friends that his daughter had made and the people who had helped her change into the person she wanted to be. He was proud of all that his little girl had accomplished, her mother would be proud of her.
A message came over the terminal that said, "All passengers to the ships leaving at one o'clock, I repeat, all passengers boarding will begin now at one o'clock flights."
Umibozou sighed and put his hands on Kagura's shoulder and told her, "We have to go Kagura-chan."
She looked up at him sadly but answered, "Okay, bye bye everyone. I'll be back before you know it!"
They all said farewell to the Yato girl as the father and daughter went to board their ship.
*End Flashback*
A/N: Whew, there is the second chapter. Sorry again that it took so long, it's hard for me to sit and type for too long so it takes time. I rewrote this flashback into it since I felt like I should show what happened when she left. I hope you like this chapter and can figure out who's speaking easily enough. The next chapter will start after the flashback when they're still having tea. My original version of this story would be getting further by the third chapter by next time but this revised version shouldn't feel too rushed. Please be patient for the next chapter, I'll type it up as soon as possible.
