Chapter 1: Goodbyes and missing you

"Well, I guess that this is bye for now huh, Gin-chan, Shinpachi."

Kagura said as she looked at her companions with a smiling yet teary expression. The other two mentioned looked at the vermillion haired girl with grins yet somewhat they looked sad that the girl was leaving. Sadaharu, Kagura's giant dog wagged his furry tail behind him, but his ears were drooped, showing that he was sad as well. Shinpachi, the bespectacled one of the group smiled and wiped away the few tears on his eyes.

"I guess so, but we'll see each other again soon, won't we, Gin-san?"

Finally, the silver haired samurai looked at the two looking bored, but they could tell that he was just as sad as they were but tried not to show it. He grinned at Kagura before lifting his hand and placed it on the girl's hair to ruffle it.

"Yeah, and it's not 'goodbye' idiot. It's 'see ya' soon'."

Kagura smiled and tried to hide her tears. Kagura laughed and when they heard the signal bell that her ship was leaving, Kagura looked panicked for a second and looked at her friends.

"Gin-chan…Shinpachi…I-I'm-"

She didn't get to finish what she was saying before she was separated from her two friends. Kagura struggled in the crowd and stood on her toes to find them. Spotting them near the gate, she waved her hand and grinned though she was crying.

"See you soon guys! Just you wait, I'm going to be the best alien hunter in the universe and come straight back! Wait for me!"

And just like that, the two men didn't see Kagura anymore as she was pushed into the ship that would take her away for who knows how long. Shinpachi looked as the ship prepared for takeoff and gave a heavy and sad sigh. Looking at his older companion who was already leaving the terminal, Shinpachi ran after the man,

"Oi, wait for me, Gin-san!"

Gintoki didn't stop but slowed down and raised his hand in a gesture for Shinpachi to hurry it up.

"Hurry up Shinpachi or I'll leave you behind!"

Shinpachi paused for a while before grinning and ran up to catch the older man. As the two of them rode back home, Shinpachi looked at Gin and peered over his shoulder to see that the silver haired samurai had a rather sad and melancholy expression. Shinpachi knew that Kagura was very special to Gin, and he knew that the silver haired man was quiet affected by her leaving.

"Ne, Gin-san, are you sure it was a right decision to let Kagura-chan go?"

"…what are you talking about? It was her decision, not ours, so we should just hope that she would be safe wherever she may be."

Shinpachi looked at him before grinning.

"Yeah! And besides, she said that she would write to us and come back soon, and I don't doubt that she would break her promises so easily, it's Kagura-chan after all!"

Shinpachi said, encouraging himself and Gin as they sped towards home.

It's been two weeks since Kagura left, and Gintoki felt rather lonely as he looked around the empty room. Since Shinpachi had to go help Otae with something for a while, Gin was left alone. Though Gintoki would not normally worry about the small amanto girl with barbaric strength, he was starting to get anxious. She hasn't written to them at all when she said that she would. After the first week of her absence, the two Yorozuya men were starting to get a bit worried. After the second week, they were downright scared that something had happened to the vermillion haired girl.

Though Gintoki would never say it out loud, he was always very fond of the girl and her weird ways. She was very special to him and that being said others could say that he had feelings for her. Though Gintoki always refused it, he had to admit that now that she was gone, he missed her.

"Argh, why am I thinking like this!"

Gin shouted in frustration while throwing up his hands. After a while, he sighed and looked at the picture he kept hidden in the table drawer. He smiled as he looked at Kagura's smiling face and Shinpachi grinning like an idiot while he stood behind the two with his normal lazy grin.

Facing facts, Gin had to admit something, he really did have feeling for the girl and somehow, rather than feeling ashamed, he was happy.

As he was recalling, he didn't hear Shinpachi enter until the young man called out to him in the front door.

"Gin-san, I'm back!"

Shinpachi said as he entered without asking for permission, knowing that it would be okay. As he entered, he grabbed the mail from the mail box and walked into the living room, putting down a grocery bag before shuffling through the mail. As he flitted through the mail with little interest, a letter caught his eyes and he read the sender. His eyes grew wide before grinning and throwing the other mail aside with no care. He ran to Gin's side excitedly, while the latter looked at him confused.

"What it is, Shinpachi?"

"A letter! A letter came from Kagura-chan!"

Gintoki 's eyes went wide before returning back to normal and saw that Shinpachi tore open the envelope and read the contents out loud.

Dear Gin-chan and Shinpachi,

Hey guys, sorry I haven't written to you yet, because training is pretty hard. Anyways how are you guys doing? I'm fine over here, actually, never felt better! I'm meeting some new people and even though I spent a short time her, Papi said that I was already stronger than some Alien hunters out there! So you see, you don't have to worry about me over here, so stop worrying okay?

Shinpachi, I saw something that you would really like here and I'm bringing it back as a present so you better be excited! And Gin-chan, even though I'm not there, take care of yourself okay? I could almost see that you're being a lazy bum from way over here. So, reply soon and I hope to see you guys soon since I am feeling terribly home sick. I miss you guys so much!

Love Kagura

P.S. Oh, and Sadaharu and Papi wanted to say hi.

Shinpachi ended and paused before laughing, but after a few chuckles, he felt hot tears running down his face. He kept laughing as he cried and clutched the letter in his hands before it was taken by Gintoki. He reread the letter and felt himself start to cry but fought it back. He placed a hand over his eyes and muttered under his breath,

"I miss you too, idiot…"

A few hours later, Shinpachi was writing a letter while Gin was reading his JUMP. After a while, Shinpachi grinned and held up the paper, rereading it to Gintoki. After Gintoki made Shinpachi add a few more things to the letter, Shinpachi went out to deliver it to the post office. As he left, Gin stopped reading his Jump and took out the letter that was neatly folded and read it again. He smiled and put away the letter,

"I hope you come home soon, Kagura."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Galaxy, Kagura received a letter a few days after she sent a letter to them (them, meaning her two idiots). The vermillion haired girl smiled as she read the letter.

Dear Kagura-chan,

We're really happy that we got to hear from you. It's great that you are already becoming into a wonderful Alien hunter, it means that we can be together sooner. We're fine over here so you don't have to worry about us either, so you just concentrate on being strong and come back home as soon as possible, okay? We really miss you too, Kagura-chan, and even though Gin-san won't tell me that he misses you, I know that he does.

Anyways, I can't wait for that present you said so you better hurry up and come back! Also, Gin-san said that you shouldn't worry about him too much and just concentrate on not getting your ass in trouble. We really do miss you Kagura-chan, and we hope that you're safe out there.

Love Shinpachi and Gin-chan

P.S. Oi, brat, this is Gin-chan, do your best out there and come back home in one piece alright?

Kagura laughed, but stopped and felt hot tears in her eyes. As more came pouring out, she wiped them away furiously and held the letter gently in her hands. Kagura looked at the stars though her window before saying to herself.

"Don't worry you guys, I'll do my best!"