Chapter 19
The young Yato man was dressed in his normal clothes, as could be seen underneath the beige traveling cloak. She barely registered much else but the fact that her big brother was here as he turned to look straight at her.
"Little sis? Hey!" he said when he turned, sensing her presence.
Umibozou smiled at his daughter as she slowly smiled so brightly before running and hugging her brother tightly. Surprisingly, Kagura then leaped and hugged both her Papi and Kamui. It was awkward for father and son after all they'd been through but they endured it for the sake of the young woman. She was still the older man's daughter and the younger man's sister.
"Papi, you really got baka aniki here?" she asked, happy but confused.
Smiling, the alien hunter declared happily to her, "Merry Christmas Kagura-chan, here's your early Christmas present. I knew this would be the best gift for you, it took a bit of convincing from his friends but Kamui endured my company for you."
Kagura grinned, grabbed her Papi and aniki's hands as she led them out of the terminal. On their way to the Yorozuya, the silence between Kamui and Umibozou was somewhat palpable but it didn't seem to bother the young woman as she hummed an enka song.
When the three Yatos arrived, Tama was outside sweeping and she waved.
"Hello Kagura-sama, Umibozou-sama. Who is this?" the robot maid said at their return.
Smiling, she replied, "It's my baka aniki, Kamui! He's here for Christmas too!"
She smiled at the family as she called out out to Otose.
Kagura ran up the stairs as her Papi and aniki followed.
When they rushed through the door, Gin looked up from his place in the kitchen and Shinpachi poked his head from the living room in surprise.
"Ah, Hage, Kamui. Breakfast will be done soon," the sweets addict said as he wasn't used to being up so early.
"Punk, what's up? It's nice to be back on Earth again," Umibozou commented to the young samurai with hooded eyes.
He stood with his shoulders slumping, showing how exhausted he become after their journey here. Gin also noticed that the man's son looked very tired as well but it was a different kind of exhaustion. Kamui's eyes showed the mental anguish he'd endured in the past and still dealt with even now though he sounded better, at least from his letters to Kagura.
Gin grunted as he got up then inquired, "How are you Kamui? You look tired."
The Yato man looked to him but didn't say anything, he just went to go sit down at the table for breakfast.
When Kagura saw Gin gave her a look about her brother, she responded, "He'll be okay, he's just...depressed. Kamui sounded better in his letters but don't worry, I'll keep a good eye on him."
"Okay, whatever you say Kagura. I trust you," the silver-haired samurai replied as he walked to the kitchen.
They all went to the dining area to sit and eat once it was done being prepared like many in Kabuki-chou. Although father and son were tense, as long as Kagura sat between them, everything was alright.
Not too long after Kamui and Umibozou returned, Shinpachi reported into the Yorozuya.
"Gin-san! Kagura-chan! We have a job, we have to go pick them up from the terminal," the megane explained.
When he came in, the four of them were sitting and drinking tea. Gin looked up lazily as Kagura lit up excitement at her friend's arrival.
"Shinpachi! What job?" the young woman inquired.
"Yeah, what job Pattusan?" the silver samurai asked as Shinpachi closed the door.
The otaku greeted Umibozou and Kamui before saying, "Mutsu-san contacted me, her and Sakamoto-san are here to meet us about some kind of job."
"Ah, empty-headed Tatsuma. Okay Kagura, Shinpachi, let's go. Go ahead and eat Hage, Kamui while we go pick them up," Gin stated as he got up.
Kagura kissed her father on the cheek, hugged her brother and jumped up to go with her friends.
"Behave yourselves Papi, Kamui! Otose-babaa won't like it if you go crazy!" the young Yato woman told them so simply.
The alien hunter sighed as he nodded while his son replied in a tired voice, "I'll try, little sis."
The Yorozuya headed to the terminal to find out about their job and to greet their friends.
When they arrived, there wasn't too many people arriving but they soon heard a familiar voice.
"Gahaha! Kintoki, how are you guys?" the baka captain of the ship exclaimed joyfully as he saw his old friend.
Suddenly, a wooden sword flew and slapped the permed-headed man straight across his face.
As he fell, his vice-captain simply said in a monotone, "Nice hit, Gin-san."
"Gahaha! Mutsu is that something to say about someone who's hurt?" Sakamoto shouted as he held his jaw.
Gin rolled his eyes, came to pick up his sword and said firmly, "It's Gintoki, baka. It'd be a disaster if it was Kintoki, the title would be Kintama. That's just gross, empty head."
"Sorry, Kintoki. Gahaha, are you ready for the holidays?" the Kaientiai captain asked, oblivious to his mistake.
A tense mark appeared on the former Joui patriots' forehead as he reined in his anger as his old comrade.
"Let's go, we'll treat you to lunch," Mutsu decided as she stepped on her boss' hand and led them out of the terminal.
"Mucchi! Great!" Kagura said as Shinpachi shook his head at his crazy friends.
Once Sakamoto got up, they all went to find a restaurant to eat at.
Once they found somewhere to eat, the space captain laughed off the injury on his jaw.
"Gahaha, Kintoki! You're as lively as ever! Sorry, I'll tell you about the job after lunch. I'm starved!" Sakamoto said as they sat, awaiting their waiter.
The trio were excited for a job but also happy to be treated to a meal. Gin, Kagura and Shinpachi sat on one side of the booth while Mutsu and Sakamoto were seated on the other side.
"Well, we're alright here Sakamoto-san, Mutsu-san. Ane-ue and Kondou-san have been doing well too," Shinpachi responded to the odd man's question.
Gin sat and waited for the waiter while Kagura exclaimed, "My Papi and baka aniki are here for Christmas! I just hope they behave."
"Oh, right. I didn't realize that they'd come back to Earth. I think things will be alright Kagura-chan," Mutsu reassured her.
Grinning, the younger Yato elaborated, "Papi came back for Christmas and he brought back Kamui with him! I know how hard everything has been between them since Mami but I'm just glad to have them here with me for Christmas."
"True but they love you so good luck, you still have your family. All of it here," the vice-captain said with a small smile.
Both Gin and Shinpachi smiled as well as they looked with warmth at their fellow Yorozuya.
"Oh, I hope this isn't a problem then," the sunglasses wearing samurai said, worried about his friends.
Just as Gin was about to say something, the waiter came with green tea and took their orders. Between Mutsu and Kagura, they ordered most of the menu. Gin simply ordered three parfaits along with sweet azuki beans on white rice while Sakamoto and Shinpachi decided on nabe.
"Like I was trying to say, it's okay. Right Kagura?" the sweets samurai tried to tell the other former Joui Patriot.
Kagura nodded in agreement as they settled into simple small talk. Once the space captain and Gin got to talking about the Renho invasion and Shinpachi made tsukkomi comments, the two Yatos decided to take a bathroom break.
The guys just shrugged it off but then Sakamoto spoke up, "Okay, I'll tell you what the job is now."
"Why now Sakamoto-san?" the otaku asked, perplexed.
The Kaientiai captain darted his head, side to side, before replying, "I'm trying to figure out a gift for...Mutsu. What do you say?"
Gin raised an eyebrow as he answered, "A gift? For Mutsu?"
"Haven't you done it on your own before?" Shinpachi inquired.
Sakamoto gulped nervously, before responding, "Not for just her, it's always been for the whole crew."
At the same time, Mutsu and Kagura were discussing the same thing.
"A gift? For empty head?" the female Yorozuya asked as she tilted her head to the side quizzically.
A bit flustered, the brunette Yato answered, "Yeah, I wanted to give him something...a bit more personal."
Kagura brightened up as she suggested, "How about you make him something? Like a scarf, those are popular gifts!"
"Really? Isn't that too simple though?" Mutsu asked, worried about the task at hand.
"Mucchi, simple or complex, expensive or cheap, are not important! The feeling is what's the key!" the redheaded Yato shouted.
Mutsu thought on it and decided, "Alright then I'll need some help with this."
"Hey Mucchi, do you like him?" Kagura asked out of the blue, which caused her fellow Yato to nearly choke on her own spit.
Once she calmed down and could breathe, Mutsu croaked out, "Saka...moto? Are you serious?"
Sneakily, the younger Yato replied, "I never said empty head, funny how you thought of him first."
"Never-mind, there's nothing special about this Kagura. Please just help me out," the older Yato insisted, a little harshly.
Kagura dampened a bit as she answered, "Okay Mucchi, let's go eat and then figure it all out."
"Sorry Kagura, just don't press it. He's my boss and friend," the vice-captain said, softer to reassure her friend.
A/N: Here's the chapter and to be clear, this is at least a couple of weeks before Christmas. It seems a bit hazy but the timeline will be clearer soon in the coming chapters. Obviously these chapters have hints of Sakamutsu so I hope the shippers of them enjoy! I'll keep trying to get the chapters up as regularly as possible though my computer is having issues by showing me the blue screen of death. Please be patient as long as I can get my chapters up somehow. Ja ne!
