Author's note: I do not own anything from Gintama. Please review after reading, precious readers! This story is unbetaed. Btw, this is NOT THE FULL VERSION due to site restrictions. You may check out my tumblr / wordpress / livejournal / AO3 for the detailed chapters. I AM SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. Exam is over, nine straight hours all in one day last week… but… I still need to read 3 books on anatomy and surgery. For the future. Then, there's work. Haha fun fun. Ugh. I thought this would be a short chapter though. But I ended up having a lot of scenes to write! Am working on the next one, alternately with memorizing shit that will get me through life haha! Replies to reviews are at the end of the page. Much love to you all! =)

Chapter 17: A Lot of Ongoing Rivalries is Extremely Confusing to the Observer

His vision wavered.

It was too early for that to happen. Gintoki let out a frustrated cry as he spun around to face Kawakami just as he was about to strangle his neck. He kicked at the other man but his wrist was caught by the damn strings. He pulled at them, dragging his opponent and pitched him to the wall. He then looked to Jiraia and was surprised to see that he was only watching them with his arms crossed. A subtle grin was on his lips.

"You bastard!" Gintoki bellowed as he rushed forward, ready to swing his sword on Jiraia's head. But the Red Spider swung upward, lifted by almost invisible strings. He took out a large kunai and tumbled down, aiming at him.

Gintoki was ready for the attack. He slid back and received the blow with his sword. Still, his knees buckled slightly. He was getting weaker, he knew. He had lost too much blood already. It didn't matter, he still had the will to fight. The battle had just begun.

He blinked, trying to keep other thoughts out of his mind, but failed. He was extremely distracted too, with Tsukuyo and Sacchan in a dispute not far from where he was. They shouldn't even be fighting. They were on the same side, damn it. He wanted to keep an eye on them but it was difficult enough having to deal with two men who both wielded cursed weapons of strings.

Tsukuyo had attacked when she realized that he and Sacchan were together. He knew that somehow she would be angry when she found out but he did not expect that she would be this furious. She was extremely aggressive and unstoppable. He had called out to her to stop but Kawakami struck him and it was impossible to determine what happened after.

The next time he was able to glance at them was when he heard Sacchan scream as she hit the wall. He expected her to retaliate but she remained on the ground, staring before her. She was still wearing her glasses but she kept still as she clutched her hand. She was possibly in a state of bewilderment. He had to snap her back to her senses. She was going to get pummeled if she did not move away.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, SACCHAN?"

Tsukuyo appeared to be in good condition, but it was still a state of offense. She had to be calmed and stopped. He rushed forward to seize her but Kawakami trapped his leg in a painful grip. He was dragged down and backwards.

Another pulse of faintness hit him but he shook his head and allowed himself to be towed before aiming a kick to Kawakami's chest. The man caught his leg and swung him to the side then they found themselves in close combat, rolling on the floor with kicks and punches. Gintoki felt a sudden stab on his shoulder and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a kunai, most likely thrown by Jiraia. Another was going for his neck but he used Kawakami as a shield. The weapon hit the other man's back. In that moment of weakness, Gintoki shoved Kawakami away, grabbed his sword, and landed a blow on the surprised Jiraia's gut.

He faced the girls and saw Sacchan on the floor. Kawakami and Jiraia had recovered easily. As he prepared to fight them again, he called out to Tsukuyo and Sacchan. "IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO EITHER OF YOU, YOU COULD DIE!"

Tsukuyo slashed forward with her kunai. "TSUKUYO! STOP! SACCHAN, GET UP! DOING NOTHING COULD KILL YOU!"

He was too focused on them to see Jiraia's attack on time. The web enclosed him from the front and rear. His sword clattered to the floor. He felt Kawakami stand behind him, pointing a weapon on that spot over his heart. But Gintoki's eyes trailed to Tsukuyo and Sacchan and then back to Jiraia. "I WON'T FORGIVE YOU IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO EITHER OF THEM!"

Jiraia stepped closer, so that Gintoki could see his new face upfront. "Nothing will happen to Tsukuyo… Do not be troubled, Gintoki Sakata."

Sacchan was leaning against the wall, her glasses askew and her face was bleeding. She barely moved, only lifting her arms to cover her face while Tsukuyo raged and hit her. Gintoki realized it must be the injection that Tsukuyo used earlier. It caused her to be that way. She had no reason to be acting cruelly on her own. Worse, Sacchan was at the receiving end of it. "LISTEN TO ME, SACCHAN!" He screamed. "Tsukuyo's somehow confounded. So… GET UP! MOVE AWAY! DO SOMETHING, DAMN IT!"

She did not look at him. She only cried out when Tsukuyo stomped on her leg. But he was relieved when she reached out her limb to trip the other woman and then crawled away. At least neither of them was on the verge of dying. For now.

"Ayame…" Kawakami's voice alerted him and he saw the man try to rush to her side. His weapon was no longer aimed at Gintoki's back.

But Jiraia was uncompromising. "Do not dare, Bansai. Do not try attempt to save that woman. Let Tsukuyo handle her. I have warned you."

"She has received enough damage, I daresay. There is no need to go further-"

Jiraia sneered. "Tsukuyo will decide. Do not interfere."

"I say let her go." Kawakami's voice was harsher, deeper.

"You." Jiraia grabbed a kunai and pointed it at Kawakami. "You are in no position to have an opinion on this matter. Takasugi and I had an arrangement and it does not include this. Challenge me again and you shall be another of my prey-"

A sudden ripping sound interrupted him and two perpendicular slash marks appeared on his chest. They bled but Jiraia was barely wounded.

"I'd rather you refrain from threatening my companions, Jiraia." A deep, familiar voice echoed in the room. "Those wounds I inflicted upon you will serve as a warning." Then there was a swishing sound followed by light tapping on the ground behind Gintoki. "We had a bargain and limits were stated."

"Shinsuke Takasugi. How considerate of you to grace us with your presence. Your assistance, though welcome, is not needed."

Gintoki dared not to breathe. He knew Takasugi and he was primed to fight his old comrade but he has become unpredictable. He moved his arms and legs, noting that they barely budged a few centimeters. The web had him trapped and that was another setback.

"Fool. I did not come to offer you my support." Takasugi's voice was edging closer. "I am here to bid farewell to an old… friend. He is, after all, about to meet his doom."

Gintoki bit back a retort. He still needed more time to escape from the snare.

"This man is merely being tested." Jiraia said ambiguously.

"If you refuse to take his life," Takasugi's sword crept to Gintoki's neck, "then I-"

Gintoki felt the blade slip from his skin and heard it clank on the ground. He fell forward, realizing that the mesh around him was gone. He looked to Sacchan. Had she freed him once again? But she was still crouched on the ground, breathing heavily. Tsukuyo was meters away from her, also trying to catch her breath.

"Gin-chan!" Kagura rushed to his side and grabbed his arm. "You look awful! You're bleeding everywhere!"

"No shit," he murmured. "Kagura, you're here. That means…"

"It's Katsura. I'm telling you before you start calling me names." His comrade stood and stepped away from the place where Takasugi was moments ago. "Shinsuke is swift as ever, but I have wounded him."

"Where is he?" Gintoki glanced around but the room was too dark. He grabbed his sword and surveyed the area. Takasugi and Kawakami were out of sight but Jiraia had gone to Tsukuyo. He was speaking to her and Tsukuyo looked up at him, her hand on his arm. A flicker of rage emerged in his chest that made him charge forward.

"Gin-chan!" Kagura screamed as she kicked once and then spun to kick another time at Kawakami who tried to attack him. Katsura was at his other side, clashing swords with Takasugi who was bleeding from his arm.

"Go home and suck on your Yakult bottle, Shinsuke!" Katsura jeered.

"That is a wonderful idea… and yet, I have some business to attend here."

Katsura laughed. "What business could you possibly have with Tsukuyo-san?" He paused. "OI! DON'T TELL ME YOU… Or did you? Gintoki! Could it be? Is it true?"

"What is?" Gintoki wondered the same time Takasugi snapped, "Of course not!"

"Gintoki," Katsura continued. "It is strange though possible. I remember that time, years ago, at a pleasure quarter, where you and Shinsuke picked the same girl and then she-"

"Shut up, Zura! And it's not like that."

"It isn't?"

"What happened at the pleasure quarter, Gin-chan? What did the girl do?"

"Nothing!" Gintoki snapped at them. "Shinsuke had some kind of deal with Jiraia. They appear to have joined forces. There is something going on here, I am not yet sure what it is. But I have an idea."

"Do you now, Gintoki?" Takasugi's exposed eye shown with malice and he stood before them, unyielding, even in his shorter stature, daring them to make a presumption. Kawakami was behind him but his head was turned slightly to the side. Gintoki's eyes narrowed, knowing whom Kawakami was preoccupied with.

"Some sick drug you've been injecting into people, making them transform. I bet Jiraia used it to alter his appearance." He could feel his fists tremble with anger. "Even Tsukuyo… It erased her scars but WHAT ELSE HAS IT DONE TO HER?" He recalled the inane look in her eyes, her unrestrained nature, the way she welcome him and Jiraia to her bed, and how she was with that filthy spider. He remembered how she stood with her back to him as he fought with Jiraia and how she let her anger take hold of her, making her attack Sacchan ruthlessly.

"It freed her." Takasugi said simply. "Don't be furious, she will return with you… If you make it out of here alive."

"You're the one who has to be shitting in his pants," Kagura countered. "You'll have to fight Gin-chan, Zura and me. Let's see if you can keep up."

"It's all right, little sister. I'm here to help Shinsuke and Bansai." Kamui stepped from the shadows, eyes closed with a grin, umbrella resting on his shoulder and his long braid swinging behind him. He was now about Gintoki's height, maybe even taller, and was more muscular. "I heard that you've been up to no good."

Kagura's eyes were wide but she maintained her composure. She gripped her own umbrella tight. "Nii-chan…"

"Yato against Yato, samurai versus samurai. That would be best, right Shinsuke?" Kamui swerved his weapon forward, eyes glued to Kagura. "Let's see if you are still the weakling that you are, little sister." He then jumped to her and kicked her in the stomach, making her hit the wall with such a strong force that she dented it.

"KAGURA!" Gintoki screamed. He slashed his Lake Toya weapon at Kamui, with almost a sure blow but Takasugi diverted his aim and he found himself flying backward, hitting the wall next to Kagura. Kamui's foot had made contact with his middle again. He coughed, and blood spurted out, an unwelcome addition to the loss he had been suffering. He hardly registered Katsura calling out to him. Had he blacked out?

"Gin-san!… Please, say something!"

He opened his eyes. The process was slow, achingly time-consuming. His lids were heavy and his sight was cloudy. He coughed yet again and felt a hand wipe at his mouth with his yukata. Then those fingers ran through his hair, murmurs accompanying it. Drops settled on his face. Were they blood? But they rolled too smoothly to be it and felt too warm to be sweat. Tears, then?

Squinting, he focused on the figure. It was Sacchan, a reassuring presence next to him. She looked a little worse herself, with her hair all over the place and her face bathed in blood. Her glasses were misty and he couldn't see her eyes but he was sure she was crying. He reached out for the hand that stroked his hair but she wailed when he grasped her fingers. They were mangled and wet with blood. She used her better hand to break his grip and then started to slide away. Then he noticed her leg.

The sharp end of a broken bone was sticking out.

Gintoki opened his mouth to speak but no sound emerged. He wondered if it was because his body wouldn't allow him or was it that he had nothing to say.

"Stay away from Gintoki." Tsukuyo stepped between them and slashed at Sacchan with weapons in both hands. "Get your smutty talons off him." She elbowed her to a distance and then turned to him. She hugged him, her face close to his, and wiped at his cheek before kissing him there. Her lovely purple eyes were sparkling with tears but held promised hope. "I'm here, Gintoki…"

He felt her hold something against his neck, pushing it through his skin. He knew that there was supposed to be pain but it was nothing compared to the numbness his entire body felt. It was the drug, the one she used on herself and the one which altered her. She was giving it to him! "No…" He gasped, a feeble sound from his lips. He wrenched the plunger from his neck but it was already empty. "Tsukuyo! What-"

And then she brought her lips to his, drawing him in to a kiss so well-remembered. "I can't lose you again, Gintoki," she whispered against his mouth. He could taste the saltiness of her tears and felt the sweetness of her lips. "You're all right. You're all right." She kept repeating the words.

Gintoki was still, astonished at the events. He did not feel any different nor did he sense a range of emotions building up inside of him. But just as he was about to sit up, an intense rumbling current hit his back and then his legs and arms were burning. He felt like vomiting his insides but a force was also keeping his breath within. Was it pain or merely discomfort? He couldn't explain the sensations running over his entire body. His mind wanted to fight but his form had its own direction. All he could think of was to bite down on his tongue and end the madness.

Then, as soon as it began, it was already fading. His eyelids flickered and everything was clear before him. His mind and body were refreshed, the tenderness of his earlier injuries forgotten. Tsukuyo helped him up and he could see her face full of happiness and relief. She moved into his arms and they kissed, choosing a touch before any more words. Their surroundings lay forgotten. But she was ripped away from him too soon.

"What have you done, Tsukuyo?" Jiraia had her trapped in his web, much like before.

"Jiraia! This is enough. You don't have to fight Gintoki." She struggled in the trap, appearing like a hostage princess for the taking.

"I'm coming for you, Tsukuyo." Gintoki promised. "Just let me get rid of this pest before me."

"As always, Gintoki… You fail to understand what is in front of you."

"Because whatever you are is illogical. There is no way to grasp your philosophy." He brandished his weapon. "Therefore, I'll end this now, before you mess up Tsukuyo even more."

Jiraia shook his head. "There is nothing wrong with her. You are the confused one. Why do you refuse to understand what she wants? This is not a game. This is not a useless battle. If you truly love her, then you will see to her wishes. It is up to you if you shall return with her."

Gintoki narrowed his eyes. Jiraia's words were as cryptic since he arrived. He glanced at Tsukuyo but her bangs hid her gaze. She had her head tilted down and was biting her lip. She had stopped struggling.

A shift in the background caught his eye. Kawakami had propped Sacchan against the wall. He could see her taking shallow breaths while the man tended to the damage on her leg. He appeared to be wrapping a piece of cloth around it. Gintoki gritted his teeth as Kawakami bent closer to her and uncapped a syringe, positioning it at her throat…

Like an arrow aimed at a target, a kunai knocked it away and it shattered on the ground. Jiraia had followed his gaze and interfered. "Once again Bansai, you have defied me. At a critical point too… Are you forgetting that it is not the first time you will be using that on her?"

Kawakami stayed crouched in place. "I am aware, you see."

"Then, have you lost your senses? Why even attempt it?" He brought out another weapon, aiming it at them.

"She is severely hurt." Kawakami spoke low but clear. He held Sacchan's hand gently and proceeded to wrap it in cloth as he did with her leg.

With a chuckle, Jiraia retracted his arm, ready to throw. "She'll live… but not for long."

"NO!" Gintoki leaped forward with rage and slammed his sword on Jiraia's arm. It bent backwards, cracking, and he let go of the kunai. He turned and they resumed their earlier fight, their attacks and shouts echoing all over the place. Gintoki knew he had the upper hand. He felt rested, with renewed strength and vigor. The drug had certainly helped him in that aspect. Jiraia was putting up a good fight but there was no way he would last, especially with his injury.

He even had time to glance at and check the others. He was relieved to see that Kagura was still standing her ground against her brother. She had not turned to Yato-mode, thankfully. Both of them had caused quite a damage to the area. But he was worried when Kamui had taken hold of both their weapons and she had to exert more effort defending herself than attacking.

Zura and Shinsuke were having a sword fight, very similar to the old days. Only before, it was for practice to be used against the Amanto. Now… they were aiming for each other's throats. They both looked serious and out for blood. He could hear them mentioning Shouyou-sensei, an important person part of their painful past. It was inevitable that he would be brought in to this.

Gintoki smashed the hilt of his sword against Jiraia's forehead. He fell back but used his strings as a cushion and kept his distance. Jiraia used the gap as an advantage, sending out numerous kunai at Gintoki, leaving him to defend with little means of attack. He grabbed and tugged on a few threads of the web but they did not move to his will. Jiraia had done skillful work in modifying them.

He rolled away from the trajectory of the weapons and was surprised to hear a loud thump ahead. It was soon followed by an angry yell. Trying to make out the stir, he found two swift-moving figures surrounding Jiraia's fallen body. "Hattori?" And was that other one the woman from the Shinobi Five? He couldn't quite remember her name.

"Yes, Yorozuya. Apologies for the delay. We spent much time surveying the area. There are more than a handful of dead Amanto hidden at some of the floors."

The woman stepped forward, her lip curling. "It was disgusting and I don't know if it was the sight or the stench of it." She looked around and gasped, pointing. "Zenzou! Is that… Sarutobi?" Gintoki turned to look, remembering. His heart beat swiftly.

"Indeed. And the pretty girl Tsukuyo in the web. I vaguely recall such a scenario in the past…" He laid his hand on Gintoki's shoulder. "Leave Jiraia to us. His appearance has changed but his technique proves familiar."

Gintoki ran to Tsukuyo, slashing at the web just like before, but the strings did not falter. "Gintoki!" She called out to him. "It's tough to cut these."

He rushed to her front, holding her at the waist, caressing her flat stomach with his thumbs. "Don't worry… I'll find a way. Hold on, Tsukuyo." She nodded at him then he lingered a bit before stepping away and heading to Sacchan. He thought of her freeing him from Jiraia's strings earlier. If she could somehow destroy the web that Tsukuyo was stuck on… and maybe Tsukuyo had more of the drug to heal Sacchan… "Sacc-"

"Keep your distance, Shiroyasha." It was Kawakami.

"Get out of my way," he growled. "Get the hell out of my way!"

"I refuse, you see." Kawakami held out his sword. "You cannot come closer. You have done enough, I daresay."

"Are you an idiot? She's in bad condition!"

"I am aware of that. There is no need for you to do anything. You have nothing good to offer her, I daresay. Go and save your precious love-"

"You bastard!" He laughed. "You actually think you can do anything for her? With that shit in the needle? Where's your damn drug now? You even failed to save her with it."

"I have more, you see." Kawakami murmured. "She'll be safe with me."

"Then where is it?" He demanded but Kawakami did not seem to have one at hand. "Just shut up already. Can a villain like you have the heart to even take care of her?"

"I may be a villain but she is important to me, you see. I do not seek to hurt her or use her the way you did-"

"FUCK OFF! I did not-"

"You dare to deny it? You do not deserve her or her love, I daresay." Kawakami stepped forward, sword at the ready. "I saw how you treated her, you see. You never appreciated her. She is remarkable and special but you only see her as something disposable." He attacked before Gintoki could refute his claims. They were absorbed in a battle so passionate and unforgiving, it was terrifying even to him. Kawakami never knew the truth. He had misconceived everything, but could he be blamed? Even so, Gintoki hated the man for judging his situation and trying to worm his way in. He wanted him gone, unable to meddle, and far, far away from Sacchan.

The thought of Kawakami holding her, offering her his protection and company… Even the idea of her accepting or succumbing to him… It scorched every fiber of his being. He will not allow it.

They sprang at each other and hacked their swords with movements larger than ever. They fought in every corner, every space, making use of the vastness of the area as leverage. Gintoki felt vibrant, energy pumping through his veins more potent than any adrenaline he had used before. He would not lose this battle.

He flipped in reverse and found himself back to back with Katsura.

"Welcome back, Gintoki-kun."

"Zura, my friend, we'll see this to the end." He was panting but he knew he had this most magnificent grin on his face. "These bastards have nothing on us."

"We're in the middle of a critical situation but there is something more important that I have to express."

"What is it?"

Katsura took a deep breath, and held his sword parallel to his body. "It's not Zura." He pushed against Gintoki and met Takasugi blade to blade once more. "It's KATSURAAAAA!" He screamed as he fought, his hair following his proficient strikes.

Gintoki smirked and as he fought Kawakami, he yelled with all his might. It was a mixture of anger, frustration, desperation, conviction and determination.

He hit Kawakami's face, knocking the visors out of his eyes, but the room was still too dark for him to see them. A body was thrown against his and they were knocked on the wall.

"Gin-chan! Sorry! Nii-chan can be too violent."

"Kagura, watch out!" He rolled them away just as Kamui aimed a deadly kick at them. He was licking the blood on his forearms.

"I'm so fucking hungry with all this fighting," he grumbled. "Just die already, weaklings!" He laughed and continued to eat at the blood while staring at them malevolently. Then he just collapsed but not before Gintoki saw the tip of a blade emerge from his chest.

Shinpachi was revealed when he fell, almost out of breath.

"SHINPACHI!" Gintoki exclaimed with triumph as he got up. Kagura followed suit. "You escaped! Well done, Pachi!" He clapped the boy on the back.

"Nii-chan?" Kagura was kneeling beside her brother who was pounding on the floor and trying to pull out the sword on his chest. He slapped her and she landed a few meters away. Gintoki punched him on the head.

"KAMUI!" Takasugi appeared before them. He slashed his sword at Gintoki and Shinpachi but they leaped away before they took damage. He held Kamui in his arms, dragging him away but Kamui stopped him.

"I'll manage, Takasugi." They stared at each other for a few seconds. "Finish them." He took one last look at Kagura and then fled the area.

"BANSAI!" Takasugi screamed, the loudest Gintoki had ever heard him. When Kawakami stepped beside him his shades back in place, Takasugi grabbed him by the collar. "Make sure Kamui finds the stash on time. But do not stay with him after. I'll take care of that."

"I'll take Ayame-"

"LEAVE HER! That's an order!" Takasugi's grip tightened. "Aid Kamui. Do not disobey me, Bansai." He pushed him to the exit. Kawakami took a deep breath and left, leaving Takasugi as their only comrade left to fight.

Shinsuke turned to Gintoki in a primed stance. "The destruction of your world… commences at this precise moment."

Author's end note: I cannot thank you all enough for your reviews. You guys are too awesome! This chapter is confusing, hence, the title, lollerskates! To Strawwwberrylollipop, I suddenly remembered reading a fan's comment somewhere saying that Sacchan never gets much love/respect, in the anime/manga/fandom. It's sad. To an. co. xx, yeah, somehow Sacchan and Matako have some similarities and I'd love to see them bitching fondly at each other. Unpredictable – I love that word! To redpurpleblack, NaNoWriMo I always wanted to but never did hahaha. They only have the same fabric in the anime though. Still, it was a nice touch. A bonus chapter, now that's an idea… :p To kurasuchi, I am a sucker for love triangles. Especially GirlBoyGirl ones, and there aren't much of those. Poor Sacchan. :( To Mikishami, yeah, Sacchan should fight. She feels unimportant though. To damnheart. o3, heehee your reaction pleases me. And nice to see another Bansai pairing fan. :D