Chapter 16

A/N: Kagura's birthday is here but it's not going to be as big a deal as Otae's. I hope no one is disappointed. Though something surprising might result from her party so get ready.

Until the morning of November 3rd, things were slightly awkward between each Kagura and Gin as with Okita and Hijikata.

That morning, Kagura couldn't have been happier. It was her birthday and she was excited!

"Breakfast everyone!" Gin yelled as he and Shinpachi set things down on the table.

Kagura happily fed Sadaharu as she pet him while Otae sat watching her. The two male Yorozuya were slightly tired at being woken up early enough by the birthday girl but they let it slide, birthdays come but once a year after all. As they ate, Kagura couldn't stop smiling. "So, what are we going to do today? Cake, presents, party, what?" she asked in obvious excitement.

Chuckling, Gin asked, "Geez, someone got into sugar already?"

The young woman looked at him expectantly before Otae spoke up.

"Actually, I'm going to take you for a massage and brunch Kagura-chan."

Surprised, Kagura questioned, "Are we still going to have a party?"

"Actually," the sweets addict said as he scratched the back of his head, "Shinpachi and I have a small job to do today."

Her face fell as he said this and she softly said, "But it's my birthday..."

"We'll be back by lunch Kagura-chan," Shinpachi reassured his downcast friend.

"Yeah, okay," Kagura mumbled dejectedly as she picked at her food.

It was hard to watch her like that but Gin and Shinpachi held their tongues.

Once they all finished their morning meal, the women were off to the spa. The two young men sighed as they could relax for a minute.

"Let's get going Pattusan," the silver samurai said confidently as they put the dishes away and prepared themselves to go.

While they went to Otae's tea shop, Otae and Kagura were just arriving at the spa.

Seeing how depressed her younger friend was, the older woman assured her, "Relax, enjoy yourself and we'll all be together at lunch."

"Really?" she reluctantly asked.

"Really, now let's go get a relaxing massage Kagura-chan," Otae said to her as she linked arms to go inside.

Meanwhile, at the Tea Shop, the two Yorozuya had arrived among a crowd of their friends.

"Gintoki! Good, you're here! We need to work as fast as we can! We only have until noon until Otae-dono and Leader will be here!" Katsura shouted as he ran about, helping everyone set up the party.

"Gya gya gya, relax Zura. Are you in heat or something?" the lazy man drawled out as he picked his nose.

Rolling her eyes, Otose stated, "That punk who never seems to be able to pay his rent is here, good. Get to work and I'll lay off about this month's rent."

"Sakata baka is finally here? About time, we're doing all the work for that pig girl's party," Catherine mocked as she smoked a cigarette.

Eyebrow twitching, Gin retorted, "Work? I guess smoking takes a lot of energy from you thief."

"Former thief baka!" she scathingly responded.

"Whatever, stop fighting and get to work," Tsukuyo piped in.

Gin and Shinpachi started as they realized so many of their friends were there: Tsukuyo, Hinowa, Seita, Kondou, Yamazaki, Shimaru, Tama, Elizabeth, Katsura, Catherine, Otose and a lot more.

Smiling, the sweets addict simply said, "Thanks, we appreciate it and Kagura will too."

They all smiled in acknowledgement before getting started. While preparations for the party were in full swing, Otae and Kagura were eating brunch after the shiatsu massage.

"Ah, Anego-chan, you were right. That was great!" the young Yato woman exclaimed as she stretched her arms out in front of her.

The young wife smiled as she stretched her arms above her head and agreed, "It was but let's go home after we're done eating. You might be surprised when we get to the tea shop."

Kagura cocked her head to the side, puzzled, but continued eating.

As they gathered their things together and left towards home, the whole crew was finishing the decorations. Tsukuyo and Seita, along with Hinowa, were putting the candles on the cake as Ayame, Kyuubei and Catherine were hanging the last of the streamers.

Just as they finished, three knocks-Otae's signal-was heard so they all crouched down in the dark.

When they opened the door and flipped on the lights, everyone shouted cheerfully, "Happy Birthday Kagura!"

The woman in question cried a bit as she smiled happily, though when she saw Gin, her fist crashed into his nose. Everyone was shocked when she panted a little before she squeezed him into a hug.

"I thought you guys didn't want to spend my birthday with me," Kagura cried as she snuggled her face into his kimono.

Despite his bloody nose, he smiled as he hugged her back.

"You baka, it takes time for a party. Besides, everyone had to gather too like a certain person," Gin said as someone came forth.

"Soyo-chan!" the young Yato exclaimed as she embraced her friend.

"Happy birthday Kagura-chan!" the young ex-princess told her as Soyo returned her friends' hug.

Everyone cheered and Kagura marveled at all of her friends there: all of the former Shinsengumi, Otose, Tama, Catherine, Hedoro, Saigou, Kyoshiro, Hachirou, Katsuo, Pirako, Jirochou, Tetsuko, Tatsumi, Heiji, Haji, Nobume, Gengai, Hasegawa, Hatsu and many more!

"Wow, thanks everyone! I'm going to have so much fun with you all, yes?" Kagura yelled in joy.

Since it was lunch, there was a large spread of food laid out. Many were hungry so cake would come later as people lined up. The spread, which was paid for courtesy of the Yagyuu family, had so much food that the Yato woman nearly drooled all over the floor.

Kagura sat eating with Soyo, Gin, Otae, Shinpachi, Tama, Otose and Catherine while many others around her came by to chat as they ate. The former Shinsengumi men all chatted and ate while people gathered with others for company.

Once everyone had their fill (or as much as Kagura could eat for now anyway), it was time for cake then presents.

"Okay Kagura-chan, the birthday girl has to make a wish and blow out the candles. Go on!" Otae told her as she moved for the younger woman to come over.

She smiled and answered, "Hai!"

Kagura thought of a wish and, once she made up her mind, blew all the candles out. The young Yato didn't blow the whole cake away but a candle did get blown up Gin's nose.

"Geez Kagura, watch it!" he playfully scolded her as he dug the candle out of his nose.

Grinning, she took the knife from Otae, made a small wish and cut into the cake. The married woman took it back from her to cut her a piece.

Kagura noticed it was strawberry-flavored and teased Gin, "I should have known you made it since it's strawberry. Why do you always obsess over sweets?"

"You'll shut up when you taste it, brat," the sweets addict retorted with a chuckle.

When she ate a piece of her slice as others got theirs, the young Yato woman noticed something about the taste.

"Is there sukonbu in this?" she asked quizzically.

He smirked and replied, "It's only in your piece, I made sure Otae got you that slice. Well, I made sure it was in a bit more of the cake too since Soyo likes it as well."

Kagura lit up and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pecked him on the cheek and went to eat her cake then get some ice cream too.

Gin blinked stupidly and touched his cheek unconsciously, as Shinpachi simply commented to himself, "Maybe he's getting the message now."

Once everyone had gotten a piece of cake and ice cream, Otae announced, "Time for presents!"

Kagura sat down and waited for her gifts so the Shimura family began.

"Kagura-chan, Shin-chan, Gin-chan and I organized the party as our gift but that's not all!" the young wife said joyfully.

She was excited but had to wait to find out more later. Hedoro came up and handed her a beautiful exotic plant, with a bow wrapped around the pot. The plant was green and the stem twined vertically about five inches, the leaves were in many different shapes while the small flowers were pink and white.

"Wow, what a beautiful plant! Thanks Hedoro!" Kagura exclaimed and hugged him, causing him to blush.

Okita came next and he handed her a DVD.

"Watch it alone later, it's really funny. You'll see what I mean," he whispered to her before telling her happy birthday and going back to sit down.

She shrugged and set it down with her plant on the table before more came up to her to give their gifts too. Gin told her that the cake was his present too when he came and hugged her.

"Arigato Gin-chan," the birthday girl whispered before she kissed him on the cheek.

"Yeah, yeah. You have other gifts to get you know," Gin replied as he smiled to himself.

Nobume came up and handed Kagura a small package.

"Hm, what's this? Nobume?" Kagura asked her friend before the former Mimawarigumi came in closer and stole her away from the others for a moment.

Nobume looked around for a moment then said, "Open it, I figured that maybe you could make use of this better than I could."

Confused, she opened the small box and found a cellphone. It was newer than the one when they found the phones from that man but it had a pink case and there were two coupons for getting two other cellphones.

"Nobume-chan, this is so expensive! Are you sure about this? the young Yato woman asked, a bit stunned.

The former Mimawarigumi vice-captain smiled slightly as she responded, "It's fine, don't worry Kagura. This is good for you three to have them, it's on me. Enjoy them."

"Arigato!" Kagura shouted happily as she embraced her friend, who returned it a bit reluctantly.

Gin and Shinpachi chuckled at her and rolled their eyes at her.

Shinpachi came over and told her, "Well Kagura-chan, the party is partially my gift to you.I hope you like it."

Surprisingly, she grabbed him in for a big hug and exclaimed cheerily, "Of course I like it Shinpachi, I'm just happy to be with all of you bakas!"

He smiled at her and realized how much he cared about this young woman she'd become, this young Amanto that had just plopped ito their laps one day when he was sixteen. She was like the little sister he never had and he was happy to see her so enthusiastic and cheerful. She grinned and the joy was just contagious.

Otsuu came over to her friend and former partner next.

"Hi Kagura-chan, here's something for you-raccoon dog testicles!" the idol said jovially as she handed Kagura a small box.

The young woman blinked a few times innocently then opened the little gift to find a silver locket. There was a picture of the two of them in one side but the other side was empty.

"Hm, Otsuu-chan why is the one side empty?" Kagura whispered to her friend.

Smiling, Otsuu whispered back, "Put in whoever you want like Sakata-san. Yeah, I know."

Kagura was a bit surprised when her friend suggested putting Gin's picture inside the locket but she should have known. Most of her friends knew her well enough that they could tell she like him though it frustrated her how he could push it away like he did.

Oddly enough, Soyo came over and hugged Kagura before saying, "Kagura-chan, hi! Here's your gift though it's not much, I hope you like it."

She responded, "Soyo-chan that doesn't matter, it's from you so I know I'll love it!"

The young red-headed woman took the square box from the former princess and found a framed picture of the two of them inside.

Kagura placed one hand over her mouth as she was so surprised and happy, before Soyo knew it she was being crushed in a hug by her friend.

"Arigato Soyo-chan, I love this! I'm so glad you could come!" the female Yorozuya yelled happily before Soyo and her separated.

Otae came over quickly to see Kagura as she whispered, "Kagura-chan, don't worry. The party was part of my gift but there's a bit more too! Oh and don't worry about Gin-san, we'll get through to him one way or another!"

When her older friend winked at her, the birthday couldn't help but laugh and Gin and Shinpachi were confused as to why so they just shrugged. Before the party ended, Otae would reveal something surprising. More came around to give the birthday girl her gifts until they were all received by her. Everyone was enjoying themselves late into the night until Otae sprang the surprise!

"Surprise Kagura-chan! Here's your gift!" the wife exclaimed with cheer.

There behind her was a new yukata hanging on the mannequin. It was yellow, white and green which the yellows and greens were splashed all across while the white is mainly the obi and datejime belt along with the under kimono.

"Wow Anego-chan, it's gorgeous! Arigato!" the Yato woman shouted gleefully as she ran to examine the gift then hugged her friend.

Smiling warmly, Otae replied, "I'm so glad you like it, I worked so hard to get everything here ready. Gin-san and Shin-chan got things ready here for me while I took you out and got this gift set up for me here then the others helped with the rest of the setup."

They hugged again before everyone cheered the birthday girl one last time that night.

Otose, Catherine and Tama chatted, ate and drank while Gin, Kagura, Otae, Shinpachi and Kondou laughed and talked. Soon, by ten o'clock or so, many began leaving and saying goodbye to Kagura and the others. By then, the only ones still there besides the birthday girl were Gin, Shinpachi, Otae, Kondou, Okita, Shimaru, Tetsu, Yamazaki, Tama, Otose, Catherine, Otsuu, Nobume, Hijikata and Soyo.

"Come on Soyo-chan, we should go now," the young former Mimawarigumi vice-captain said to the young woman.

She hung her head but went to hug her friend as she said as she said, "I have to go Kagura-chan but happy birthday! It was great to see you again!"

Kagura grinned and replied, "Thanks, you can always come again Soyo-chan! Take care!"

Soyo left with Nobume after they said their goodbyes to everyone as well.

Next, Shinpachi volunteered to take the idol home which caused Gin to tease him.

"Of course you want to Pattusan, fondle," he teased as he made hand motions of groping.

Frustrated, the megane shouted, "Gin-san, don't you have any shame? Sorry Otsuu-chan, he's...just vulgar."

"It's okay," Otsuu replied as she giggled, "I know he's joking. It'd be nice for you to take me home now-corn poop!"

Shinpachi blushed a little then hugged the young Yato woman and said, "Happy birthday Kagura-chan, Konbanwa!"

Otsuu did likewise and the young man escorted the young woman out.

"Well, we should be getting out of here too. I hope you had a great birthday Kagura," Otose said with a small smile on her face.

Even though Catherine was making faces at her, Kagura cheerfully answered, "Thanks Otose-babaa, this was all I wanted for my birthday really. Konbanwa, even to the middle-aged cat lady."

After the young Yato and the cat-eared Amanto flung thinly veiled goodbyes that sounded almost like an argument, Catherine's husband escorted them home. Tama would have gone with her family but the spy of the Shinsengumi had been talking with her.

"Tama-san," Yamazaki asked nervously with a blush growing on his face, " would you allow me to take you back home?"

The robot maid smiled gently and responded, " Of course, O appreciate your kindness."

At that, she took his hand and he let her home. Though, beforehand, they both said happy birthday to Kagura, Tama hugged her then left, smiling.

Tetsu and Shimaru went to hug the birthday girl too before they left back to headquarters. Otae and Kondou decided to go home so they had Kagura and Gin lock up before they left.

"Aw man, come on Sougo! We're going back to headquarters!" the former fukuchou groaned as he saw how drunk the young man had gotten.

He sat there, having trouble drinking from his glass as he hiccuped.

"I'm not-hic-drunk, Hiji-hic-kata-san!" Okita slurred.

Hijikata sighed heavily as he grabbed him by the collar of his kimono, took the glass away to set it down and dragged him out to one of the squad cars.

"Sorry, happy birthday China," he said simply as he walked out.

Kagura giggled at the sight and turned to Gin.

"Let's go home Gin-chan," she suggested.

The silver samurai smiled and replied, "Yeah, bed sounds good. I'm whooped and you need your sleep birthday girl."

Gin and Kagura left soon after Hijikata and Okita, locked up and headed back to the Yorozuya.

The mayo samurai got into the driver's seat after he'd helped the sadist into the passenger's seat. Just as he went to start the car, Okita put his hand on his superior's leg and rubbed his thigh!

Utterly shocked, Hijikata asked, "What the hell are you doing Sougo?"

"Don't you like this Hijikata-san?" the former captain questioned as he looked at him innocently, continuing to rub his thigh.

The mayo addict shuddered, nearly moaning, as he took Okita's hand off of his leg.

"Let's just go Sougo, back to headquarters," Hijikata said as he began to drive home.

When they arrived back home, the older man helped his subordinate inside and to his room. Just before he was going to leave Okita's room, the man in question grabbed Hijikata by the cheek and kissed him full on the mouth.

Afterwards, Okita softly uttered, "Aishiteru Hijikata-san."

Before the mayo samurai could even respond, the young sadist passed out right there in his bed asleep. Hijikata caught him so he wouldn't fall hard and laid him down in his futon, unsure what else to do. He left him in his clothes from the party and left to go to bed in his own room.

While that was going on, Gin and Kagura arrived home at the Yorozuya.

The man yawned before saying, "I'm going to get ready for bed, you should too birthday girl."

She nodded and, once he left to the bathroom, popped in the DVD Okita had given her. It began as she arrived at the park and showed both her and Okita along with Gin, Otae, Kondou and Shinpachi. Hijikata came in next before they all ended up in the ice cream parlor. She laughed at how Gin and Hijikata acted but then as the scene in the movie theater came on, Gin came out of the bathroom and back through the living room.

When she suddenly paused the television and blocked his view of it, Gin half-joked suspiciously, "You're not watching my porn are you?"

Kagura gulped as she couldn't answer, which he just smirked at.

He stretched his arms over his head as he said, "Don't stay up too late anyway then."

The young Yato woman nodded as he went to bed after brushing his teeth and changing into his pajamas. Anego-chan and Gori ignored the date while Shinpachi must have figured it out around then. She almost couldn't believe how freaked out and stressed out those two were though! Gin-chan was chewing his popcorn so hard, he would broken his teeth. Mayo samurai was smoking three cigarettes at once but his face really gave his stress away. The scary looks on their faces as Shinpachi eeped was priceless though! By the end, Kagura had laughed so much, she was surprised she hadn't woken the older man up. Seeing that disaster at the end was both horrifying and hilarious, especially when they both kicked those bakas butts!

She turned off the television, put the DVD back and in a good hiding spot, Kagura went to bed. Not long after she'd fallen asleep at around four o'clock, the young woman awoke in a sweat. She'd dreamed of a mixture of when she'd fought that Yato man in Yoshiwara and when Kamui and her Papi had nearly killed each other in the past.

"Ugh, I hate this," she muttered to herself as she stole into Gin's room.

As she climbed into the futon with him, Kagura didn't notice that he was sweaty and still awake from his own nightmare. When she felt the soaked sheets, the Yato knew he's had a nightmare so she cuddled him.

Gin muttered lowly, "Thanks Kagura," as he returned the cuddle as they both fell asleep.

They both slept until noon and dreamlessly, as their arms were wrapped tightly around each other.

A/N: Well, there you have it. Kagura's birthday party it over and I even tried to add a bit more to it so there was a bit more there like her getting presents. I hope you liked it and I'm really sorry that it took so long in getting so long in posting this chapter. I had a problem with my computer where it locked all my things, internet browsers included, so I couldn't do anything and I have to get it checked out eventually but considering the state of that computer I really doubt it's worth saving. I only got this 'new' used computer last week and it's been a hell of a time since it's not exactly new. It's a Dell XP and it seems to have a lot of problems lately like I can download flash player but it won't open, I was trying to update the flash player since it kept telling me to. Now I can't watch videos on facebook or play games on facebook or episodes with flash player though I can on firefox i think. on the episodes. I'll work hard to get the chapters posted ASAP and I'm still currently writing too so please be patient with me everyone! I really appreciate everyone who reads and reviews my story. Ja ne!