Title: A Trip to the Beach

Summary: Kagura attempts to enjoy the beach in a trench-coat, elbow-length gloves, and thigh-high boots. Being Yato really sucks when all a girl wants to do is bathe in the sun. Luckily, Gin-chan is there to buy her all the ice-cream she wants! Cute Gin/Kagura oneshot.

Rating: K+

Up Next: Insomnia (Okita/Kagura)

~A Trip to the Beach~

"I hate being Yato."

Kagura stared glumly at herself in the mirror, feeling the oppressive heat soaking into her body as the bright red trench-coat seemingly soaked up all of the suns rays before depositing them over her in a steamy, uncomfortable blanket. Her umbrella, which would have usually sufficed as protection, lay at the side, torn after her fight with Myio.

Kagura wasn't too worried. Yato umbrellas were coded to their owners, and as long as she was well, the umbrella would self-heal. Even the most active Yato in his/her prime of life, however, wouldn't be able to have their umbrella regenerate in less than three days—and the weather forecast was predicting that day as the official end of summer in Edo.

As if mocking her, the T.V. screen flickered and a too-cheerful woman in sunglasses and a—Kagura glared—tank top and short beamed at the camera and said, "Rainy skies expected for the days following today, so enjoy your last day at the beach as much as you can!"

The scene flickered to the sight of people laughing in the water, women sun-bathing, and children splashing each other in man-made lake that was Edo's ocean. Kagura pushed herself to her feet at the sight. Already she could hear the squeals—could feel the sand underneath her thick boots—could touch the cool water—

Sighing, she forced herself to start walking. After all, if she was to make her perfect beachside dream come true, she'd better get there soon, because the sun sure wasn't going away and Kagura never had been one to give up.

GKGKGKGKGK

It was mid-afternoon by the time she got to the beach, and the beach was at its noisiest. Venders sold various deserts and pickpockets ran rampant, trying to snatch a popsicle or a couple dollars from the tourists. There was hardly a free spot on the sand, but Kagura found that the crowd parted easily for her.

"It's because I look so weird," she muttered to herself, "I can't wear a swimsuit, or a bikini, or even a T-shirt. No, I have to be Yato and wear a freakin' trench coat. Why do the heavens hate me so…" She was so immersed in her thoughts that she'd stopped watching her steps, and just as she uttered those last words, she ran smack-dab into someone's chest.

Now, Kagura was stronger than fifty-men combined, but she was still a fourteen-year old girl who weighed less than a hundred pounds. Consequently, when she hit a rock-solid, muscled body, she bounced backwards. And Kagura would have fallen straight on her butt if a hand hadn't reached out and grabbed her.

"Oy, Kagura. Watch yourself."

Kagura stared up, and found herself looking at the white-hair of her senior apartment-mate. "Gin-chan!" she squealed, and grabbed his hand, "Buy me an ice-cream, I'm melting."

She dragged him to a vender, who quickly realized the situation Gin was in and piled everything he had onto his cart-counter. Kagura's eyes went wide as she scanned all the goodies. "Oooh, buy me that one! And that one!"

"Yo, Kagura. Why should I buy you anything? Do you think I'm made out of money?"

Kagura's smile faded and her eyes slitted. Turning on Gintoki, she smiled very, very slowly. "Gin-chan, you don't pay me. You barely feed me. I'm dying in this coat, and if you don't get me everything I want I will make you regret it."

Gin regarded his charge. She was extremely flushed, and obviously overheated. Despite her dire threats and his knowledge of her monstrous strength, her get-up ruined the effect, making the words seem cute and petty rather than dangerous.

She was swaying, and Gin sighed, forking over the money to the smug-looking vender. "Take what you want, Piggy. Make sure you don't die of dehydration."

Despite the fact that he couldn't pay the rent now and the landlady would probably castrate him, Gin watched Kagura's excited eyes as she chose her deserts and didn't feel a bit of regret. After all, it was her first day at the beach.