Kagura led me back to our apartment to show this "amazing thing" she wanted to show me. Not that I wasn't grateful to her for getting my wallet back from those thieving cat girls, but this had better be worth it.

"Gintoki gave in, uh-huh," Kagura said.

"What does that mean?" I asked her.

She led me into my room, and to my surprise, pulled a lone plank of wood out from the wall. I know we don't live in the nicest part of town, but how did I not notice that loose plank before?

"We can see into Gintoki's room from here, uh-huh," Kagura said.

"Why are we going to be looking through to Gintoki's room?" I asked.

"Just shut up and come see for yourself, baka," she replied.

I knelt down next to her and we both peeked in. Kagura already donned her mischievous grin. While I, on the other hand, was completely shocked.

Just days ago, Gin had been running away from Ayame every time she bluntly asked him to smell her feet (no thanks to Kagura, who put it in her head that a foot fetish could bring two soulmates together). But now, I'm looking right into his room, and not only is he not running away from Ayame, but he is willingly kissing her feet! He was holding her foot in his hand and kissing the top of her foot without so much as a joke or complaint! And call me crazy, but he looked like he was enjoying it!

"See? See?" asked Kagura excitedly, "Isn't that exciting?"

I had to admit she was right. Shame I didn't have my camera though, but it was still a nice view. And it really looked as though Gin had given in to Ayame's begging and that it paid off.

Until I saw that the latter was meant literally. Gin got up and no sooner did I blink when Ayame handed him a wad of cash.

"That's all you get for this," Gin said.

I don't believe it! Ayame actually paid Gin to worship her feet! And he didn't even go all the way. Man, if I were in his shoes...well, we know what I would do. Judging by the pouting face on Kagura, I could tell she shared the same disappointment.

"There, I did what you asked," Gin said, "Now can we please just get some shut eye? I want to hit the manga shop early tomorrow."

Blushing brightly, Ayame started to pull out two futons. Now I see what was going on. She somehow persuaded Gin to let her stay the night in his room. As oblivious as he is, he really knows how to get a girl into his pad.

"Do you know what this means?" Kagura whispered excitedly.

"More of our budget down the toilet on groceries for guests?" I asked.

"Besides that," she replied, "She's going to either try to seduce him with her feet, or simply arouse him subconsciously while he sleeps! We can get the stuff on both of them at the same time!"

"You know what?" I asked, "That actually sounds kinda fun. Almost like a stakeout."

I wasn't convinced Ayame would be in any way embarrassed with her behavior in that context. But with Gin, we could use the advantage.

For the next two hours, Kagura and I sat around the televison, me thinking excitedly of catching Ayame in the act, while Kagura watched the news, eating her seaweed snacks and burping crudely. Otae had come home a little late, but went right to sleep in Kagura's room. Guess she had a long day. Once the clock hit midnight, we both figured Gin would be asleep with Ayame trying to do...well, something.

"Ready?" asked Kagura.

"Oh yeah," I replied.

I lightly tapped the door since Kagura would probably just kick it open, but it seemed to open on its own. We both thought for a moment they were both awake and had heard us tapping, which would have ruined everything. But as we tiptoed into the room, we saw that this was not the case. Both Gin and Ayame were dead asleep and snoring. Almost like they were competing to see who could snore louder. Gin had his mouth open and his pillow over the rest of his face. Ayame had her mouth closed, but had some hair in her face. Both were flipped so that one person's face was next to the other person's feet. However, while Gin wore socks on his feet, Ayame was completely barefoot. Guess she really did plan on doing something before just falling asleep.

"We sure they're not faking?" asked Kagura.

With Gin, that was a no-brainer. He could sleep through the apocalypse and wake up without knowing what happened. With Ayame, I did the eye check. Both her eyes were rolled back into her head.

"Yep, she is out cold," I replied.

I had to admit she actually looked half-human without her usual red-rimmed glasses. Then again, she was asleep, and therefore did not have her usual lovesick stare or psychotic demeanor. But we weren't here to admire her face. We had originally come to catch her in the act of using her feet on Gin.

"Psst, Shinpachi, come here," Kagura whispered.

When I looked up, Kagura had brought out artistic supplies (I don't know how she managed to fit them into her pockets). I had a good idea of what she was going to do...I wanted in. I crawled over to where she was. She held a paintbrush in her hand, and next to her was a box of markers.

"You do whatever you want with those," she said, pointing to the marker and Ayame's right foot, "But this one is mine."

Kagura held up Ayame's left foot and began dipping her paintbrush into a bucket that had been next to her, which presumably had paint. Having received 'permission' from Kagura, I took Ayame's right foot and placed it in my lap. I grabbed the red marker next to me and, after removing the cap, placed the tip of the marker on Ayame's arches. Unsure of what to draw, I started with just scribbles along her arches. Those scribbles turned into a smiley face. And in big letters from the top of her foot to her heel, I wrote "SMELLY" in all caps.

I checked from the corner of my eye to see Kagura still painting something on Ayame's left foot. Not sure what it was supposed to be, but while she was distracted, I put Ayame's foot up to my face. Like I wrote, it was smelly. I guess that's to be expected when she chased Gin all over town and then some. Especially in this weather. Unless her feet naturally stink. Not sure how I felt about that as my nose travelled along her foot. With foot odor, it was good on Kagura, bad on Kimiko, and pretty much nonexistent on Otae, though you probably figured out I'm not proud of how I know that.

The only time my mouth has ever met Ayame's foot, though, was through the 'wrestling' match, and it was only for a second...and it was to get her to stop trying to kill me. This time, when my lips attached themselves to her sole, I could truly appreciate the bitter (yet pleasing) taste of her ripe feet. Most of it was on her arches, but I got some out of her heel as well. It was her toes where I got the most flavor. Not just because she had a recurring case of toe cheese. Also because her toes were not only left unmarked by the marker I had used on her sole, but her toenails were unpainted. Pure cheesy flavor for me. All five (and surprisingly plump) toes.

"When you're done, look at what I'm gonna go to Gin," Kagura, completely undeterred by my most recent display of foot worship.

Once Ayame's toes left my mouth, I saw Kagura had painted Ayame's entire foot. I didn't know where this was going until Kagura lifted Gin's pillow off his head. Kagura took Ayame's painted foot and placed it on Gin's face, leaving a green footprint across his face. I had no real idea what Kagura was planning. But then again, I never understand what's going on in her mind.

"You done with yours, or are you gonna screw around more before jacking off in the bathroom?" she asked.

"Okay, now you're just making the most ridiculous accusations," I said, careful not to let on about what I may or may NOT do after touching or thinking about feet long enough.

We both departed, leaving the two snoozers to themselves, and I went in my room to catch some shut eye...unaware of the late night visitor I was about to receive.