A/N: *sigh* The recent arc of the manga has completely thrown everything I had planned off course! Given the things that have happened (don't worry I won't spoil you if you haven't been spoiled already) I realise I have to quickly finish this story and move on. Enjoy! Sorry it took so long...Oh and a big thanks to all those who reviewed the previous chapter! :)

Chapter 11: Truth

Shinpachi had seen death before; after all his father had died in front of him and his sister when they were kids. But that could not possibly have prepared him for what he was seeing now. All of those bodies...the overpowering stench of blood...he had to cover his mouth to keep back the urge to puke. Kagura and Gintoki seemed to be handling it better than him, not surprising given their past experiences, and they watched the Shinsengumi carry away the bodies with grim expressions.

After a few minutes of looking on at the macabre scene, Hijikata made his way over to them. He had a cigarette in his mouth and his hands were in his pockets but his casual stance did not fool them. They knew he was grieving in his own way for the men he had lost.

'We will need to regroup before we can even think of launching an offensive on Takasugi's forces. We have spoken with our Commissioner Matsudaira, he will be there soon with his forces.' Kagura's and Shinpachi's eyes widened in shock. Hijikata's gaze moved away from them to Gintoki, who looked back at him evenly. 'If you want to have any chance of getting to Katsura, you had better get there before he does.'

Gintoki nodded his head slowly though it was clear to all that his mind was elsewhere. As to what he was thinking, Hijikata could only wonder.

'Gin-san...' Shinpachi started, wondering at Gintoki's unusual solemness. Kagura smiled and took his hand.

'Let's go, Gin-chan.' She said with a smile so cute, it was hard to believe she could be such a gluttonous tomboy-

'ARGGHH!' Gintoki flew ten metres into the air with a loud cry before falling to the floor. He raised himself up and had to cover his now bleeding nose.

'What was that for?!' He almost screamed.

Kagura shrugged and turned away, with her umbrella on her shoulder.

'I thought I heard some bad words about me coming from your direction, yeah.'

'Where did this tsundere attitude come from?!'

Hijikata watched the ensuing argument and inwardly marvelled at how they could act like this under such circumstances . But then again...this was the Yorozuya. He sighed and threw something towards them, halting their argument as Gintoki caught it in his hand and took a closer look. It was a car key.

'Better get going.'

'We have our ships and helicopters surrounding the exterior of the palace to ensure that the Shogun does not flee by roof so he should be somewhere in this building.' Matako was saying as they made their way through each of the rooms in the palace.

'Still, we must do this quickly before reinforcements come. The Shinsengumi may have been disabled but Matsudaira will arrive with more units.' Bansai remarked.

The verandah they were traversing soon split into two separate sections, causing them to slow to a halt at the intersection.

'It might be quicker if we split up to cover the East and West sections.' Bansai recommended.

Matako shot a sideway glance at Katsura, who had crossed his arms and was looking ahead, before turning to Takasugi.

'Shinsuke-sama, Bansai-sama, allow me to go with Katsura along with half of the men while you go the other way.' She suggested.

Katsura's olive brown eyes turned to her at this, but he didn't say anything. Bansai shook his head.

'Should something go wrong, Matako, you won't be able to handle him.' He replied, to her irritation. She clenched her fists.

'I can handle a one-handed swordsman!' She snapped.

'One-handed he may be, but he is still out of your league.' Came the calm response. Matako turned away indignantly and crossed her arms. Bansai did feel some sympathy and understanding for her, after all he didn't trust Katsura either. He turned to the long haired swordsman, whose mind seemed to be elsewhere and not at all bothered with their suspicion, before nodding his head.

'I will go with him.' He said.

'No, Bansai.' Takasugi said, finally intervening. They all turned to him.

'Shinsuke-sama?' Matako's eyes went wide with dread as she realised what he was about to say.

'Zura will come with me.'

'It's not Zura, it's Katsura.' Katsura replied, breaking his silence.

'After being silent for so long that is all you have to say?!' Matako shouted. She did not want the two of them going together! Not when she didn't trust him to be left with Shinsuke-sama...Not when it could be her and Shinsuke-sama together...

She turned her face away to hide the growing blush on her cheeks.

'Shinsuke...are you sure?' Bansai asked.

Takasugi smirked.

'Don't let his silence fool you. He will not accept to follow anyone else.' He replied, shooting a look at his former comrade before returning his gaze to Bansai.

'We've wasted enough time. Get going.' He ordered, entering one of the verandahs. Katsura followed a moment later along with some of the men who had come along, leaving the two behind.

'So, you let them go after him?'

Hijikata glanced over his shoulder as Kondo approached him and sighed.

'They wouldn't have been stayed even if I wanted to keep them back. Besides, we owe them one.' He replied, as his Commander came to a stop beside him.

Kondo let out a deep breath and placed his hands in his pocket. He had an unusually grave expression on his face and Hijikata decided to remain silent, waiting for him to speak what was on his mind.

He wasn't disappointed when moments later Kondo proceeded to do just that.

'Sometimes I feel as if, even though we have different approaches, we all want the same thing. It makes you wonder why we fight against each other instead of with each other.' He remarked.

'Are you speaking of the Jouishishi?'

Kondo smiled and shook his head.

'No. At least not all of them. I'm talking about the real patriots; the ones who don't harm the very people they claim to be protecting.'

'Like Katsura.' Hijikata remarked softly. With a sigh he took a whiff of his cigarette and let out a puff of smoke. As he watched the smoke disintegrate into the air, he smiled.

'Perhaps a day will come when we can sit down and drink sake together, not as enemies but as comrades.'

Kondo's smile widened.

'Looks like that day may not be as far away as we think.'

'Ohhhhh!' Shinpachi shouted as the car Gintoki was driving (at full speed) went over a bump in the road, raising both it and the people within. Shinpachi gave another grunt as gravity pulled him back down to his seat with a thud. Wordlessly, he put his seatbelt on.

'Gin-chan, we're almost there!' Kagura encouraged, barely fazed, as she pointed at the palace in the distance.

Gintoki had been surprisingly silent throughout the trip, but he nodded his head to acknowledge her words. As they got closer their eyes widened at the extent of fighting at the base of the palace.

'They've already breached the palace wall!' Shinpachi realised.

'Zura must have gone in with them!' Kagura added.

'Gin-san, how will we get through all these people?'

Gintoki only smirked, confusing the two kids, until it dawned on them what he was about to do. Kagura put her seatbelt on.

'HERE WE GOOOO!' Gintoki shouted, pressing the accelerator and driving straight towards the palace 'entrance'. Palace guards and Jouishishi were forced to move aside as the car drove through.

As they approached the palace, Gintoki pressed on the breaks, causing the car's wheels to screech as it came to a halt just in front of the entrance, and stepped out. Shinpachi and Kagura followed and came to stand beside him.

'It's Shiroyasha!' Some of the Jouishishi realised, upon seeing Gintoki's silver hair.

'Don't let him to get to Takasugi-sama!'

'Gin-chan, Shinpachi! Move back!' Kagura shouted as they moved away from the car. Taking out her umbrella, she aimed it at the car's bonnet and started shooting, causing the engine within to explode and stopping the men's advance. The explosion also made the entrance close in, preventing anyone else from entering after them.

Gintoki nodded his head in approval.

'Let's go.'

Before it's too late

Takasugi and Katsura's group had run into more palace guards as they progressed until it finally reached a point where all the men following them had fallen, leaving the two of them alone. Seemingly unaffected, Takasugi casually wrenched his sword from the body of a palace guard.

'It's just the two of us now. This is what you have wanted all along, is it not?' He asked.

He felt a sword being pointed at his back and smiled.

Katsura closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again.

'Forgive me, old friend, but you will not be taking the Shogun's head today.'