'Gintoki!'

'Eh?'

'Don't change. It would take a lot of effort to kill you. I'd rather not do it.'

'Zura, if you change I'll be the first to cut you down!'

It was one of those nights; the moon's ethereal silver light shone upon the Kabukicho district of Edo. Though it was late, the busy district was still abuzz with life as its inhabitants walked up and down the roads moving from one place to another. Many shops had signs with bright lights of various colours which invaded the senses of those who passed under them, beckoning them to enter.

As the silver haired samurai walked along the buzzling streets, his mind was beset with countless memories. Whenever he was idle, he would always remember the old days when his life had been much different and his sensei and his comrades were still alive...

He stopped in front of a ramen shop which he often frequented and opened the door.

'Sorry, we're closed - Ah Gintoki! Long time!' Ikumatsu, the owner of the shop beamed at him as he approached and took a seat.

'Yep, have to watch my wallet now that I've got unwanted kids in my house.' As he said this he couldn't help the smile that came to his lips. Kagura and Shinpachi were anything but unwanted; they were like family to him. He looked around with lazy red eyes and noted that no one else was around.

'Don't worry, he'll be here soon.' The ramen shop owner said knowingly, a small smile on her face. 'How about I make you something while you wait? Don't worry, it's on the house.'

'Oh, in that case can I have a strawberry parfait, red beans on rice and-'

'Hey! That's not the kind of food I'm talking about! Is that even food?!' She couldn't help yelling.

'Alright, alright, how about some strawberry milk and some odango-'

'As if that's any different!'

The door slid open as they were speaking and a man wearing a straw hat on long, silky dark hair entered. He placed his straw hat down before approaching, his serious brown eyes examining the situation before him. He gave a knowing smile.

'Still taking strawberry milk after all this time? Why don't you grow up?'

'Look who's talking. You asked us to meet and you can't even come on time!' Gintoki snapped as Katsura sat down on the seat next to him.

'You always come late. Didn't expect you to be early today.' Having said this, he turned to Ikumatsu and inclined his head slightly. 'Ikumatsu-dono, it's good to see you.'

'Yes, Katsura, good to see you too. Now, what would you guys like?' She asked, looking from one to the other.

'Soba, if you don't mind.'

'Straw-'

PUNCH!

'Ah ah, ramen is fine.' Gintoki remedied as he wiped at his bloody nose.

As Ikumatsu proceded to cook the selected dishes with a disturbingly satisfied smile, Gintoki noticed his friend watching her silently.

'Oi Zura, are you going to let me know why you asked me to come or are you going to just sit there and fantasize?' He hid a smile as Katsura blushed furiously.

'It's not Zura, it's Katsura!' Katsura shouted indignantly. He gave a sigh and returned to being serious.

'Really Gintoki, do I need a reason to ask you to meet with me?' He asked silently.

Gintoki's eyes narrowed slightly and he cocked his head to one side. For some reason, he felt like Katsura was hiding something from him. 'Is that it then? You could have just come to my place like you usually do.'

Katsura turned to Ikumatsu as she placed their food in front of them. 'Thank you Ikumatsu-dono.' He said gently.

'Sure. I'll leave you guys to talk.' She replied before doing just that and leaving the room. Gintoki took up his bowl and began eating as Katsura went on to speak.

'I wanted to meet you here because I didn't want the kids to be around. I wanted you to be alone this time.'

'You're creeping me out.'

Katsura gave one of his annoying laughs. It reverberated around the room and grated on Gintoki's nerves.

'Only you can think of such disturbing things, you perm haired freak.' He said with an irritating smile on his handsome face.

'What the hell? Where did that come from?!' Gintoki wondered as Katsura helped himself to some Soba.

Having had enough, he put down his half finished bowl of ramen, stood up and held Katsura by his haori. Katsura was surprised to say the least, but then his face relaxed and he pushed Gintoki back. Both of them stood now and stared into each other.

'What's going on Zura? You're acting strangely today.'

The white haired samurai watched as his friend closed his eyes and looked at him intently.

'I've been thinking lately. About how things have changed; the paths we have taken that have led us to where we are today.' As he said this he looked outside the window. 'You have made it clear you won't join the cause and I realise I can't convince you. I want to say farewell, Gintoki. I may not see you again.'

As he said this Gintoki's eyes widened. What was the damn idiot saying? He was going to throw away a friendship of almost twenty years because of his cause? Did all they had gone through mean nothing at all?

'What?' Was all he could voice out.

'Goodbye Gintoki.' Zura said after a slight pause. He had returned to looking outside the window.

Gintoki couldn't believe what was happening in front of him. Then something came to mind and he smiled, almost desperately.

'Zura, you idiot. Are you trying to blackmail me into joining you? It won't work.'

'I know. I have tried that before remember?'

'Then why?! If something is going on-'

'I cannot continue to associate with you when we no longer share the same goals. If I want to move this country forward I need to be focused on that and that alone. I cannot afford any distractions. That's all.'

'You're calling your friends 'distractions'?' Gintoki wondered in shock.

Katsura looked at him for a moment before reaching for his hat.

'Farewell then.' He said quietly, proceding to walk out the door.

Gintoki fell silent at this. Instead of speaking, he took up his bowl of ramen and continued to eat.

'Zura, when you were saying goodbye why did you keep looking at the window? If you are going to leave forever, the least you can do is look into my damn face.' He said between mouthfuls.

Katsura stopped in his tracks and turned to him in surprise . He sighed purposefully and looked into Gintoki's almost dead looking red eyes.

'Good-'

BOOM!

The sound of a bazooka interrupted him and the two turned to see the Shinsengumi approaching.

'Die Katsura!' The Vice Commander Hijikata Toshirou shouted.