Hey guys, Murayama Tsuru here. Here's a oneshot about Takasugi for Veterans Day. I admit, I just wanted an excuse to write about Takasugi (never thought I'd say that). I think, a little bit unfortunately, I've gotten more used to Taka's psychopathic creepy evilness (I blame my psychology paper). But…there wasn't exactly a holiday in November in Japan that I felt I could write about…so, I'm using Veterans Day and you'll see how I compensate for the fact it's not a Japanese holiday (though I do believe they do have a holiday for veterans). Yeah, I know it's a couple days late, but there was something else I wanted to do then. Well, without further ado, here's the oneshot ^_^ I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama; it belongs to Sorachi Hideaki-Sensei.

Takasugi Shinsuke sat in his room, looking out the window and smoking his pipe. He watched as the rain hurled itself painfully against his window, most likely trying and failing to do him some sort of harm. Shinsuke sighed deeply, he felt desolate. He wished the rain could do whatever it was it wanted to already, he felt so tired of just sitting there (the idea of getting up had not occurred to him).

Today, he had learned from the Yato, was an Amanto holiday called Veterans Day. Shinsuke was then told that, although the Yato didn't actually celebrate the holiday, the Harusame space pirates did so today was a day off from any terrorist activities. It wasn't as if Shinsuke had had anything planed, but the fact that the option was taken away from him wasn't comforting,

So, feeling like he may as well get into the 'holiday spirit', Shinsuke told the rest of the Kiheitai that today was a day off for them as well. And then he holed himself up in his room, trying to seek comfort with his Kiseru and watching Edo from his ship. But, it wasn't really working.

As the name implied, Veterans Day was a day to celebrate those who came back from a war. He realized, with some annoyance, that he was in fact a veteran of the Joui Sensou. So were the rest of his comrades that had made it back from the war with the Amanto (including Gin and Katsura). And yet, there was no celebration for them, they were branded traitors and forced to flee. Forced into taking more drastic measures for getting their revenge (like destroying Edo).

And where was the memorial for those who died? There were many more of that variety after all. The whole idea of Veterans Day pissed Shinsuke off. It reminded him of what he had lost and could never retrieve from those who had taken it from him. Shinsuke would much rather have a day to memorialize his dead comrades, who could no longer betray him, than the ones who had returned alive.

Thinking along those lines, his mind automatically went back to Obon, the celebration that was for the dead. Kamui had dragged him to the festival saying that he wanted to see how the Samurai did it. And, for some reason, the younger Yato had wanted to know if he would see any ghosts. Shinsuke had assured him that they would not; the real world and the spirit world may blend on Obon, but ghosts didn't show themselves so readily.

But, he had been wrong; he had seen Gintoki following some buff-looking old man that Shinsuke did not know. At first he had thought nothing of it, but when everyone went to the river there was Gintoki again, a whole slew of fading, translucent people in the background. Shinsuke knew then that Gintoki had seen their Sensei (even though he hadn't), and he felt an irrational bubble of jealousy form in him.

And now, months later he was thinking about Obon and wishing for all he was worth that his Sensei was here, that Shouyou-sensei would tell him he was doing the right thing and he wanted to be avenged. Or at least just show himself, even something that small would be fine.

But, figuring it to be impossible (he didn't believe that ghosts could take physical form after all), he took another drag on his Kiseru, resigned to feeling his desolation all day, hoping that the rain would somehow swallow him whole. But, as the pipe left his lips, he heard a familiar voice say disapprovingly, "Shinsuke, don't you know how bad that is for you?"

Shinsuke stiffened, but didn't turn around. If this voice was the real thing then he would already know how surprised Shinsuke was at hearing his voice. Instead, voice calm, betraying none of the shakiness he felt inside at this particular moment, the one-eyed man said, "Yes, it might a bad habit, it's true. But, after ten years, it's all I can do not to lose it, Sensei."

Shinsuke heard a sigh emanate from behind him. But before Shinsuke could turn around, Shouyou-Sensei appeared in front of him, a small frown creasing his lips. With another sigh, Sensei said, "Oh, Shinsuke, I'm so sorry…"

His narrowed and he Takasugi growled, "It's not your fault. It's the corrupt Bakufu's! They need to pay for what they've done!"

"That's not what I'm sorry for," Sensei said, looking sadder, "I'm sorry that I couldn't teach you enough so you wouldn't go down this path. Revenge is a hard choice to make and I'm sorry I had to make you and Gintoki and Katsura make it."

Takasugi turned his head away, hoping to avoid eye contact with his teacher; he no longer wanted his Sensei there with him as approval didn't seem to be something that would be coming in the near future, so Shinsuke would rather return to his fantasies of Sensei praising him. Then Shinsuke said, trying to change the subject, "Did you know that today's Veterans Day? Apparently it's an Amanto holiday. A Yato told me about it."

Sensei nodded, and Takasugi noticed for the first time how translucent he was, "Yes, in the afterworld I've talked to other Amanto ghosts about today. I guess it's part of the reason I wanted to see you. You know, I saw Katsura and Gintoki a few days after Halloween. Gintoki, though, was passed out drunk."

"Yeah, well," Takasugi growled, the feelings from Obon bubbling up inside him again, "I'm sure seeing Gintoki during Obon more than made up for that. I heard that he saved a number of ghosts from a Shinigami."

Shouyou looked rather perturbed at that, "Obon? No, I didn't see Gintoki then. Well, I did see him, but I was much too weak from being captured by aforementioned Shinigami so I didn't talk to him. Shinsuke…are you jealous?"

Takasugi's eye widened imperceptibly, of course Sensei would see right through him. Eye still turned away, the one-eyed man's body radiated that he wanted to drop the subject on whether or not he was jealous of Gintoki. Just because he was didn't mean he wanted to admit it aloud; Gintoki had saved Sensei while he had gotten there too late. Who wouldn't be jealous of that?

Sensing Takasugi was closing himself off, Shouyou smiled sadly, he had imagined that his would be the outcome eventually. Shinsuke was, after all, a very stubborn person (not unlike Gintoki). Then, acquiescing to Shinsuke's request of a change of subject, he said "So, why don't you tell me about this Yato who told out about Veterans Day."

Takasugi scoffed, "He's a brat who loves fighting, it can get to be a real problem at times. I think the only reason he and I are in an alliance is because he wants to fight me as well."

Shouyou chuckled in response, "It sounds to me like you want to fight him as well."

Shinsuke scoffed again, "Sure, Sensei, whatever you say." The two then began the rest of the day about the ten years that had gone by as the rain pounded endlessly against the window.

The next morning, Takasugi woke up in his room alone. He looked around, feeling, once again, the loss of his Sensei acutely. But, he noticed that it wasn't raining anymore. That meant that today would be a good a day as any to plan the destruction of Edo. Despite having talked with Shouyou-sensei yesterday, no conviction had been lost in his desire for revenge. If anything, it had grown. Now, he had to make sure that his teacher was avenged, even if it would make Sensei sad. Shinsuke sat up and lit his Kiseru, it was time to start planning.

And that is the end of that chapter. It might just be me…but the end felt a bit like a cop out…I think that's mainly because I kinda lost interest…sort of. You see, it's getting to be that time in the semester when things start to feel long and drawn out. So, I admit, I was feeling a little low as I started writing this (as I usually do when I'm writing about Taka). But then, I got distracted by silly videos on YouTube, and motivation (and lowness) went away. So yeah, that's how the end came about. And I think Taka might be a little bit out of character...Well, see you (for this story anyway) on New Year's Eve. As always, reviews are greatly as I love to know what you guys think.

-村山鶴