Author's note: I do not own anything from Gintama. Please review after reading. I'd really appreciate it! This thingy is unbetaed, sorry. Btw, this is NOT THE FULL VERSION due to site restrictions. You may check out my tumblr / wordpress / livejournal for the detailed chapters. I've been busy. So much revising was necessary with the previous chapters. Oh, btw... Remember the scene from episode 165, guys? It kinda inspired me for this fic. I hope Gin-san's feelings have been addressed well in this chapter, ultimately sort of explaining why he is doing whatever it is he is doing. Replies to reviews will be at the end of the page. Thanks for the feedback!
Chapter 5: To Be Objective, You Must Push Aside Your Emotions
The two samurai briskly navigated the streets towards their local hideout.
Gintoki was fuming. "Could you be a little more subtle, Zura? And next time, don't show up at that place," he hissed, glancing around to see if anyone was following them.
"She's not coming after us." Katsura said calmly. "You are suspecting the wrong person, Gintoki."
"The hell I am! She's involved in this, I can feel it." His fist clenched painfully around his sword.
"What if you're wrong?"
"I can't be," he countered, as they entered the ramen place chosen specifically by Katsura. They walked directly into the kitchen and through a hidden door, which led to a modest den.
A few lamps illuminated the place revealing brick walls and a low ceiling. On the large sofa were Shinpachi and Kagura, watching television. Shinpachi's eyes often flicked towards another figure sitting on the rug. Otsuu, a well known pop idol singer, had joined them.
"Hello Gin-san, Katsura-san!" She was beaming at them, one eye closed in a wink. "Shinpachi-kun said we have a meeting-arbage breath."
Gintoki flopped down beside Kagura, picking his ear. "Yes. Zura, needs to tell us what he discovered."
A shout could be heard in the background sounding like "I'm not Zura, I'm Katsura, dammit!"
"Gin-san, how is Sacchan?" Shinpachi inquired. "Did you talk to her?"
With a forced laugh, Kagura answered, "I think they did more than talking, heh."
"Stop talking like a naughty youngster," Gintoki scolded.
"Ha! I'm no dirty kid, you're the dirty old man, doing dirty things to Sacchan." Kagura slapped his forehead. "We know what you've been up to."
"Stop saying dirty! It sounds dirty! And look, you're making me say it too."
Shinpachi stood up, yelling. "Hey! We're focusing on the wrong thing! Gin-san, are you avoiding the issue? What did she say about the-"
"Is everyone just going to ignore me?" Katsura asked from the door, arms crossed.
"Hi there, I'm being ignored also-aked balls in pee." Otsuu piped in.
Kagura rolled her eyes, "See, she's the one talking dirty."
"I'm as polite as I can be-arded ass."
"Otsuu-chan is never dirty! Even when she poops, she smells angelic!" The boy in glasses was passionately defending his idol, as usual.
"Poop is never angelic. Not even the ones that fall from the skies," Katsura opined.
"I wish knives would fall from the skies and impale all of you," Gintoki muttered.
"Can knives do that, Gin-chan, huh?"
"This meeting is very confusing-le monkey."
Pulling on his hair, Gintoki roared, "Everyone shut the fuck up! We're wasting too much time with this idiotic conversation."
"Sorry, Gin-san," Shinpachi nodded. "Katsura-san, please tell us the news."
Taking a seat on the rug, Katsura spoke gravely. "It is as we suspected. The Kiheitai are in the area."
Gintoki's pulse jumped, "What?"
"A few members have been spotted by my subordinates," his comrade continued.
"Who?" He demanded, desperate for answers.
"They have encountered Kamui-"
"Nii-san!" Kagura exclaimed, eyes wide. "Nii-san is here?"
"Yes, Leader."
Kagura was speechless. Gintoki noted she had a grim expression and was clenching her fingers. "Who else, Zura?"
"It's not Zura, I'm Katsura," he muttered. "The weirdo strategist, Henpeita Takechi. They also mentioned a third companion, he seems familiar to them but is not a known member of their group."
"What do you mean, familiar? What about Takasugi, wasn't he with them?" He could feel his urgency for more details. This was a sudden but gratifying development in his search.
Katsura shrugged, "He reminds them of someone. They caught a glimpse of his hair... it seemed amber, but they were at a dark place. That was the extent of their view. Takasugi has not yet appeared but it doesn't mean he's not already in the area."
"He is pretty good at hiding himself," Gintoki mused. Taking a shaky breath, he asked, "What about their captives? Are there any in tow?"
"We haven't uncovered anything about that," his voice was apologetic, "yet."
He could feel himself seething. So, things have escalated, but not as much as he wanted. The most crucial information he needed was still missing. Whatever Katsura had revealed only served as confirmation, not a solution.
Otsuu's voice broke his thoughts, "Tsunpo-kun is also here, he took a leave and said he'd be coming to this place-ment brain."
Gintoki did not reply. He didn't care if the entire faction was here. He only hoped to see one person. The assurance of that life was the most valuable encouragement he could receive.
"What did you find out at your end, Gin-san?" Shinpachi questioned again.
"Practically nothing. That damn stalker is useless," he spit out bitterly.
"Maybe she doesn't know anything, huh, Gin-chan." Kagura was always defending the Sarutobi woman. Both she and Shinpachi were quite reluctant to engage in his plans. Zura also sided with them, only supporting his hunt for Shinsuke Takasugi.
He disagreed with the three, firmly believing she was related to the atrocity, even indirectly. The group they were chasing possessed a warrior with ties to Yoshiwara. Yoshiwara meant Jiraia, former Oniwabanshuu ninja.
And Jiraia meant Tsukuyo.
The mere thought of her was torture.
He was still under the impression that Jiraia may be alive. The man had deserted his former group and killed most of its members, leaving only a few survivors. One of those remaining was Ayame Sarutobi.
His anger intensified. Why would Jiraia fail to eliminate the other ninjas unless he had some use for them later? He had already spoken with Zenzou Hattori, another former spy and assassin of the Oniwabanshuu, countless times about this. The man was now a freelancer, and leads a new band of ninjas, the Shinobi 5.
Unfortunately, they all steered him to a dead end.
The only present link to the situation was the woman he had taken to bed the night before. She was affiliated with the Oniwabanshuu, hence, Jiraia, and her life was conveniently spared by the Red Spider.
Most importantly, she had rivaled Tsukuyo for his affections, that of which she refused to back down from. She was a persistent and obsessive pest who perpetually chased and coveted him. That woman was determined.
He doubted she would refuse the opportunity to obtain her ambitions.
Now, Tsukuyo was caught in the middle of this tragedy.
If there was a woman he genuinely longed for, it was her. She was the most captivating female he had ever known. Never, in his entire life, had his heart beat with such purpose, until he met her.
But she had disappeared soon after they swore to spend their lives together.
Saying he missed her was to underestimate his sentiments. Tsukuyo had become a part of him that he wanted to cherish and protect forever. He knew this kind of dedication rarely manifested in him. He was in love with her.
That stalker woman was nothing compared to his beloved.
The Courtesan of Death. Her image was still clear to him in his head and heart.
Tsukuyo, a sandy-haired beauty, who exhibited both strength and agility. He admired her grace and skill at fighting. There was always raw passion in her. She intrigued him from the beginning, from her appearance to her individuality. He was crazy about her.
Tsukuyo was gorgeous, inside and out. The scars on her face brought character, accentuating her depth. He loved her scars and never saw them as flaws. He always ran his lips over them to show her his appreciation of her past. Her eyes were magnificent, full of understanding and he could feel their souls connect whenever they gazed at each other.
When he kissed her, he felt a new meaning to his life. She reawakened his resolve to defend and treasure the people most precious to him. Her lips were enticing, shy yet always responsive and bore kisses full of affection. They usually made out for hours, savoring each other until fulfillment, or if others interrupted.
His most favored part of her body are her mouthwatering breasts, which are incomparably exquisite. Her sighs when he teased her with his hands and lavished her with his mouth were extremely addicting. Since the day she had given him full access to her body, he never missed a chance to play with her soft mounds.
Tsukki, he called her, a name most fitting to someone tantamount to the dazzling moon. He considered her his regal princess, always wanting to make love to her over and over. Their bodies were always in sync, automatically giving and taking entirely with each other. She filled his need yet she also made him thirst for more. He loved their untamed and poignant connection.
She wasn't a virgin when they first slept together, unlike Sarutobi who was shockingly one, but Gintoki didn't care. He knew Tsukuyo had a difficult past, and she gave up a lot of things to cope with it. He accepted her for that and it made him prouder. Sarutobi, on the other hand, had her own shady past, despite her innocent appearance.
He refused to acknowledge his uncontrollable craving, or any hypnotic affinity, for that unpleasant stalker.
Admittedly, she was physically appealing, as he assessed earlier. Though she lacked profundity, only focusing on her pervertedness and obsessions. She was loud and desperate, even clumsy without her glasses. The only thing she was passionate about was her infatuation with him. She submitted herself completely during sex, with reckless abandon. Her body, overly sensitive and responsive, was a tool for their lust.
She kissed with good fervor, akin to a whore for temporary satisfaction. It was sensual enough to keep him interested. Her breasts were large and appetizing but he preferred Tsukuyo's more ample and bouncy ones.
She was a good fuck, he'd give her that. Tight, wet, hot and thrusting lasciviously - a real turn on with women. But he believed she was forgettable. Nothing about bedding her was special. He would gratify his libido for now, but once he succeeds in his endeavor, he will certainly forget about her.
Later that night, he returned to his new household, expecting Sarutobi to be asleep. He intended to wake her and seduce her into revealing some information. To his unfortunate surprise, she was not at home.
He bristled, immediately presuming she was occupied by treacherous affairs. Specifically one that likely involved the Kiheitai matter.
With newfound loathing, he tore through the house, desperately trying to uncover something... Anything... That would make sense of this inferno.
A few hours after midnight, she arrived, looking weary and flushed. She shrieked upon witnessing the mess he created.
"Gin-san! What happened?" She cried in distress. He thought she might've looked troubled that her skeletons were discovered.
Grabbing her by the arm tightly, he slammed her against the wall. "Where the hell have you been? It's late."
Wincing, she pulled his fingers off her. "I was out with some friends."
"Friends?" He boomed, "Assassins? Criminals?"
"What? No!" Her eyebrows were drawn together. "My friends from work."
"You're lying!" His volume had increased. The anger in him was slipping out.
Shocked, she simply stared at him. With a shake of her head, she walked to her room, carefully avoiding the scattered objects on the floor. She gasped when she saw the additional jumble inside.
He saw her bend down to pick up and rearrange the items, slamming them on the table. She kicked the drawers closed and shot him an irritated look. He hoped his face mirrored his hatred. He followed her inside, ready for a dispute.
She kept her back to him instead, silently smoothing out the covers of her bed. Sighing deeply, she took off her coat, uncovering a sleeveless blouse hanging from her shoulders.
He took note of her scrumptious breasts, raised by a lacy bra visible through her top. Her hips were covered by a puffy white skirt, barely reaching her knees. Moving forward mechanically, he knelt behind her and slipped his hands under her blouse to yank at the hook of her bra.
She mumbled, leaning her head on his shoulder. She smelled of cigarettes and she was weeping.
He seized her breasts possessively beneath her underwear, caressing them with energy. "Why are you crying, kitten?" He breathed. She was so supple in his hands. He ran his fingers over the erect centers with feathery light strokes despite his urge to hurt her.
She closed her eyes and shook her head, leaning into his touch. "Gin-san," she moaned in surrender, "don't be angry at me. I don't want to fight." He caught a hint of alcohol on her breath.
Moved by her wayward intensity and words, he gave in, hauling their bodies together and overwhelming her repeatedly until morning.
Author's end note: I used nii-san instead of big brother because I cannot take the words big brother seriously. LOL. Big thanks, Strawwwberrylollipop, yeah I did use the five year gap to change the characters 'cause of the premise of this story. They've barely interacted in years so she's probably not as comfortable with him especially with what happened. Meek and tender Sacchan is inspired by the side of her we saw in the Glasses Arc of the manga/anime. I'd like to think that Gin-san brings that out in her because she has strong feelings for him. kurasuchi, here you go yo.