Chapter 14: Sometimes it's difficult to say who drew the short straw, sometimes it's not

Tatsuma Sakamoto truly, honestly loved clubs in Edo. They were the best from all of the planets he has visited, with the best atmosphere and the best hostesses. The same sake tasted better in a club in Edo than it did in the most luxurious bar on the most luxurious planet. Or it could be that he enjoyed the prettiest hostesses and that made the sake all the sweeter. It wasn't nearly as much fun to be a bartender and even less when all he wanted was to be fighting to protect his comrades.

With pursed lips he observed the arrival of the guest of honour for the evening: none other than the Shogun. It was the first time he was seeing the powerful man with his own eyes and he took his time to notice the dignified manner in which the man carried himself, even when entering a night club, the expensive clothes and the surprisingly relaxed expression. It would be interesting, he thought, to talk with that man once. It would have to wait for another occasion, he amended with a sigh and cast a brief glance around him, to make sure he was ready for his "job", before focusing again on the entrance.

A bespectacled, older man arrived as well, slapping a hand on the Shogun's shoulder, as though they were long-time friends. Matsudaira, Sakamoto thought, unsure if it was with dislike or not. The man was known for his tastes in drinking and flirting and Sakamoto has seen him in this particular club multiple times. Of course he couldn't, and didn't want to, condemn him just for that.

If they have arrived, Sakamoto thought, it meant the others have gotten into the castle of Edo.

It was their idea to use the commotion as the Shogun will be leaving to sneak in through a small side entrance, used for making deliveries. Sakamoto knew of it because he has once traded with the castle of Edo, bringing them some luxurious, unnecessary products, he didn't even remember what. It didn't matter. What did was that the entrance was only guarded by only one man under normal circumstances. It was also guarded by a heavy door, but between Kagura and Mutsu that must have not mattered much.

'You'd think they'd cancelled the evening out after receiving our warning,' Shinpachi, dressed in waiter's clothes and standing next to the bar, muttered. Sakamoto spared the boy a brief glance, assessing the irritated expression and tense shoulders.

'Relax, Shinpachi,' he whispered. 'We should be happy they haven't changed plans. Changing plans would alert Takachibi and he would also, perhaps, most probably, alter his plans. Next time we might not have been so lucky as to catch a hint,' he pointed out in a low tone. 'Besides, we always knew there was a non-negligible chance they will ignore the warning.'

That has been Gintoki's main argument against sending the warning, a note carefully caligraphed by Zura, in the first place. Well, in all honesty, he only started protesting when they got to discussing how exactly they could deliver the warning. For obvious reasons, Zura couldn't go openly and in person. For fear of being, rightfully, associated with the infamous terrorist, nobody could go openly and that was when Zura suggested an interesting and, at least for Sakamoto, surprising alternative.

Paako. Sakamoto found it difficult to stifle a wide smile that wanted to twist his lips upwards every time he thought about Paako. Right from the awful hairstyle to the manly way in which "she" walked, "she" was hilarious. Zura agreed with him wholeheartedly, unabashed when Kintoki dragged into the conversation the existence of Zurako, who was apparently much more convincing. However, Zura being injured, he would be in a bad situation if Zurako got noticed and thus Paako was charged with slipping Zura's note into Hijikata's pocket.

It was scary that "she" has managed. They only had to hope that the Shinsengumi have heeded the warning or he and Zura would never hear the end of it.

Sakamoto wished he had any excuse to go out and assess the Shinsengumi forces securing the area, to make sure that some were not there. He wished he wasn't stuck doing absolutely nothing, watching how Matsudaira and the Shogun went down the stairs, were greeted by a popular singer playing hostess and guided by her to a table, where a few more hostesses were waiting, including Shinpachi's dangerous, older sister. Once there the commander of the police wrapped an arm around the singer's slim shoulders, saying something about having fun and Sakamoto could hear Shinpachi grit his teeth.

He stifled a smile, although it did occur to him that maybe they should have chosen somebody else to stay with him. Shinpachi wasn't known for restraining himself and if he exploded with something improper, he could get thrown out or even arrested. Plus, if he exposed his real identity, the observer sent by the Kiheitai could get suspicious and who knew what would happen then.

The said Kiheitai, and Sakamoto wasn't sure whether he was glad or not to have noticed the suspicious person, was there alright. Further in the room, hidden in the shadows, was the man who fit perfectly Kintoki's and Zura's descriptions: Bansai Kawakami. Sakamoto didn't dare look his direction too often. He didn't know why the man was there and even how he managed to slip through the Shinsengumi's protection. He could be there to observe as much as to assassinate the Shogun, should the raid on the castle fail.

An unknown factor was always a potential danger and Sakamoto knew his own weaknesses. Being discreet and spying were among them, but there was nobody to whom he could delegate the task of keeping an eye on the Kiheitai. He would have to do it himself and he worried he wasn't going to manage.

At the same time, he was somewhat glad. One strong fighter in the club meant one less for Kintoki, Zura and Mutsu to face. He was worried enough as things were, wishing that somebody else was chosen to stay in a club. Plus, he and Shinpachi could surely take on one Kiheitai and if they did maybe Sakamoto wouldn't feel so guilty for playing bartender while the others were risking their lives.

'Oi, waiter, waiter,' Matsudaira called out cheerfully, going as far as to wave his hand. When the boy failed to react immediately, Sakamoto gave Shinpachi a small nudge and started preparing champagne glasses. He knew what Matsudaira would order, much to the delight of the club owner.

It was fun to watch Shinpachi stammer a greeting and blush when his idol addressed him with a cute smile. It was slightly less fun when Matsudaira looked at him suspiciously and said he didn't remember his face and whether he wasn't too young to be in the club. Thankfully Otae reassured the policeman that Shinpachi was simply a new waiter.

Shinpachi took the order, Sakamoto prepared it and Shinpachi managed to deliver it successfully, despite his trembling hands. The hostesses giggled at Matsudaira's poor jokes and eagerly drank the champagne he poured into their glasses. It took amazingly little time for Matsudaira to demand more bottles.

The Kiheitai observer looked like he has fallen asleep, but it was impossible to judge for sure with his dark glasses. Sakamoto couldn't rule out the possibility that the man truly was a master assassin and no stress showed in his posture. He too fought to look perfectly relaxed, especially when the feeling of being observed told him that the Kiheitai wasn't sleeping at all. However, neither of them made a move. Sakamoto prepared more champagne for later and Shinpachi came back to stand in front of the bar, disgusted by Matsudaira's arm wrapped around Otsuu-chan's shoulders.

An officer of the Shinsengumi entering the club abruptly went almost unseen, but Sakamoto has been waiting for this. Despite his best attempts at staying relaxed, he stiffened in expectation. The officer rushed up to Matsudaira and whispered into his ear. Sakamoto didn't have to hear it to know what was going on, especially when he saw Matsudaira's expression change from cheerful to worried and angry.

It has started.

Outside the club, the Yakuza have engaged the Shinsengumi guards, as Takachibi has planned, taking everybody's attention. In the castle of Edo, Kintoki and Zura have probably, hopefully, clashed with Takachibi and stopped his plan. Sakamoto really wished he was there to make sure they didn't kill each other while they were at it.

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Getting rid of one guard and replacing him with three Kaientai traders after they have slipped into the castle, because their aim was to upgrade and not weaken the security, was no challenge at all. It was far trickier to find the way once inside, especially without being noticed by the guard patrols. It went without saying that anybody deemed an intruder would surely be eliminated or arrested and having a known and wanted terrorist among them, never mind a few of his followers, would make it very difficult to explain how they didn't mean to cause harm. And again: they meant to strengthen the security and not remove it, so neutralizing the patrols wasn't really an option, much to Kagura's disappointment. They couldn't be hundred percent sure they would intercept Takasugi after all, and they could hardly go about clearing the path for him.

Not that the patrols of guards stood any chance against a couple of Yato from the ex-Harusame 7th division allied with the Kiheitai. Hell, Gintoki wasn't even sure if they stood any chance, with their skills and numbers and two Yato in their ranks. The plan was that he and Katsura put themselves as the first line of resistance, with the hope of dividing the Yato into two groups, because nobody doubted that it would be the Yato in the first lines of the enemy and only afterwards the Kiheitai.

He knew it was going to be difficult the very moment he realized who exactly was spearheading the attack: the second strongest Yato in existence. He should have known, he thought, tightening the grip on the katana. It was a reassuring weight in his hand, but suddenly felt like it might not be enough. If Kamui had one or two of his Yato to help, the fight would be painfully short, he thought.

Just then, Kamui ordered his men to follow the Jouishishi and his words gave Gintoki a pause.

Jouishishi, not Kiheitai, he said. Somehow it seemed like an important difference and against himself Gintoki glanced away from his enemy, behind him and behind Takasugi, at the gathered group carrying banners. For a split of a second he wondered why they bothered to take such unpractical objects to a raid, but then he realized there were different banners and his eyes widened as he understood their significance. That bastard was making it seem as though they have all reunited!

He saw a movement at the edge of his vision, a blur of red approaching. Before he had a chance to react, a hand hit him, flat against his chest, knocking most of the air out of his lungs. And he was flying backwards, the reception hall blurring from the speed.

The impact against the wall knocked what air was left in his lungs, stunning him for far too long.

It felt like Kamui has teleported to stand in front of him, punching him in the gut right as Gintoki got his bearings back and was ready to fight. There was no shame in doubling up with a breathless gasp, because he was sure the punch was strong enough to smash his internal organs. It felt like it at least, but he hasn't expected less from a Yato.

When a follow-up kick in the face didn't come, Gintoki straightened to see Kamui turned away, a long gash of red on his back, side-stepping a swishing blade. Good, he thought, Zura took the opportunity to regain initiative.

Zura avoided a punch and Gintoki took the opportunity that their enemy was minutely destabilized to attack, swinging his blade low to cut the tendons in Kamui's knee. The Yato brat managed to get away in the last second and even sent Zura back into the wall. Unfortunately for him, he had to turn away from Gintoki to do that and Gintoki didn't waste oppoerunities like that.

His katana sang as it cut the air, the only warning Kamui had before a second gash bloomed red on his back.

The Yato turned to Gintoki with a gleeful smile that showed far too many teeth. As he was turning, Zura kicked one leg from under him and the Yato stumbled in surprise. Gintoki raised his katana without hesitation and cut.

Tips of red hair floated away in disarray as Kamui dodged first Gintoki's cut, then Zura's. His steps took him away from them and neither Gintoki nor Zura wasted time in charging ahead. Except Kamui was waiting and it was by a hair's breadth that Gintoki avoided a kick which would implant him into the closest wall, possibly permanently.

On auto-pilot, he managed to balance himself and swing wildly at the outstretched leg.

Blood from the cut splattered on Gintoki, but Kamui didn't seem to feel the injury. He went smoothly from the first kick to another and this time Gintoki was forced to jump back. And even as he was jumping, he saw Kamui turn back to Katsura, just as if the damned Yato has expected the momentary retreat.

Thanks to his reflexes and excellent footwork, Katsura avoided Kamui's first punch and caught the second on the edge of his katana, forcing the Yato to pull back for a second. He took that second to attack and Gintoki pounced at the same time, a feral yell tearing itself from his throat.

He thought he glimpsed a smirk and then Kamui was gone. And Gintoki was rushing at Katsura, with too much momentum to stop.

Eyes widening, they managed to catch each other's attack and parry clumsily and before Gintoki fully caught his footing on the ground, something connected firmly with his lower back and propelled him, far too fast, face forward into the wall.

He very nearly took off Zura's head as he flew past, but there was no time to worry about that because it was either his nose or his wrist and- The impact stunned him momentarily. He came back to his senses hearing a familiar, pain-filled scream.

Somewhat unsteady, his head spinning, Gintoki turned away from the wall. Zura was on his knees in front of Kamui, whose fingers were digging into Zura's injured arm, tearing into the barely scabbed gash. Zura's katana was on the floor next to them, probably just forced out of his hand, judging by the painful angle at which Kamui was holding Zura's other wrist. Able to see the side of Kamui's face, Gintoki didn't miss the gleeful smile.

'Shit,' he breathed. He swallowed thickly and gripped the hilt of his katana harder, ready to attack again. Just then, Kamui lifted one leg and kicked Katsura into a wall. Gintoki charged with a yell, but Kamui was jumping as well, one hand lifted and ready to strike and Gintoki knew he wouldn't get there on time.

Desperation fuelled his moves and he pushed himself as fast as he could, but as Zura limply hit the wall, surely as stunned as Gintoki has been moments ago, Gintoki knew that Kamui would be there before him. Even as he ran, he saw, as though in slow motion, how the terrifying Yato, smiling gleefully, landed on his left foot, his right hand moving parallel to the floor, ready to crush Zura's neck.