Chapter 11

Kagura awoke in an unusual place, although it gave her a strong sense of Déjà vu; she had been in there before, but she could not remember where it was and when she had been in it. She noticed another unusual thing. She had noticed that she was not alone in this room. The sadist was a few beds away, sleeping and bandaged up. It seemed his injuries were a lot worse than he had let on. Wincing in pain, she sat up in the bed someone had left her in. She too was bandaged up, although she was nearly healed. There were voices outside.

"Oi, Gorilla, let us go in. We want to see Kagura!" Came the familiar voice of her boss, Sakata Gintoki. She felt her mouth curve into a smile when she heard the concern in his voice.

"I'm sorry, but the doctors said she needs her rest," replied another voice. Kagura soon realised it was the voice of that Gorilla. A third voice joined the conversation.

"Kondo-san, how is Kagura-chan? We were sent home yesterday after we put her in the infirmary. You haven't told us about her condition or anything… Is she okay?" Asked an extremely concerned voice. Shinpachi. She now knew where she was too. The Shinsengumi infirmary, she had been in here before when they came to dispose of that creepy mosquito-amanto lady.

"She is doing well. The doctors said she was getting better at a rapid rate. Her shoulder is almost mended according to the doctor who checked up on her an hour ago. She just needs rest," Kondo replied.

"What about Okita-san?" Shinpachi asked in a voice which was unmistakably more relaxed. "How is he doing?"

There was a silence for a while.

She looked over at her rival, worriedly. Why wasn't Kondo saying anything? It felt like forever before Kondo spoke.

"The doctors said that although Kagura received injuries of a similar severity as Sougo, she is able to heal more quickly-," Kondo began, his voice slightly strained.

"Because she is a Yato," Gintoki said.

"Yes," Kondo continued, "Sougo is unable to heal at such a rapid rate. He has received many rib injuries and quite a large number of broken bones. It seems he was shouldering these injuries for the entirety of the walk back..."

"Not to mention me throwing him through that wall," Kagura added, overcome with guilt. She had never expected that the sadist would be so badly injured.

"We cannot be sure whether or not he will be able to recover; his injuries may have gotten infected. The doctors said that they could not do anything at the moment. We just have to let him rest for now."

Upon hearing this, Kagura climbed out of her bed and walked over to Okita. "Oi, you brat, what are you doing? How could you let yourself get so injured, huh?" She muttered, eyes welling up with tears.

"I'm probably still stronger than you though, idiot," replied the voice, his red eyes slightly open. "And who are you calling 'brat', you brat? I am older than you."

"Shut up," she said, raising a fist, but then immediately lowering it. "You were awake then, yes? You heard what Gori said, yes?"

"Mhm, apparently some stupid bitch is on the mend, but the hot guy she is totally in love with might not be able to recover," he whispered, a smirk present on his face, his eyes almost fully closed again.

"I am not in love with you, stupid," she replied, resisting the urge to hit him.

"Then why are you crying over me?"

"I am not, uh-huh! I just feel bad because it is probably my fault…"

"Sure. Whatever you say, China," he said, almost voicelessly and his eyes closed again.

"S-sadist? Are you okay?" She asked, concerned. She felt his forehead. "Sadist, your head is boiling, uh-huh. S-sadist?!" She poked hard him on the arm, no response. She screamed, "GIN-CHAN! GORILLA! HEALTH ME!"

Three men outside the infirmary stared at each other. Gintoki and Shinpachi were at a loss for words. Okita Sougo might die.

"GIN-CHAN! GORILLA! HEALTH ME!" Came a shrill scream.

"Kagura-chan?" Shinpachi said, worried.

"Health me?" Kondo repeated, looking at Gintoki with a confused face.

"She means 'help me', stupid," Gintoki said, kicking down the door of the infirmary. "KAGURA?! ARE YOU OKAY?!"

"It is not me…" She said, a look of shock on her face. "Gin-chan, the sadist is burning up, uh-huh… and he won't wake up…"

"Gorilla, get the doctor! Soichirou-kun has a fever!" Gin yelled, then walked over to Kagura, and then calmly said, "Kagura, go back to bed. You need rest."

"But, Gin-chan, the sadist's condition is not good, yes? Will he be okay?" She asked.

"He will be fine," Gintoki said, patting her head. "Losing sleep over it will not help his condition. Rest."

"But… But, Gin-chan, it's my fau-," Kagura began, but Gintoki stopped her.

"You need rest, Kagura."

Noticing his now serious tone, she did as she was told.

Kagura opened her eyes. There were voices outside again. She noticed that it was the Gorilla and Mayora.

"He refused to go to hospital?" Hijikata asked.

"Yes, they brought some equipment here though and they were able to stop his fever. He is on the mend," Kondo replied.

"Good."

"Hey, Toushi…"

"What is it?"

"Do you think he doesn't want to leave the infirmary because she's there?"

"It's possible… I never thought about that. Who knows? I'm sure if it is, he'll deny it anyway… even to himself."

Kagura heard footsteps. After a while, the sound disappeared. "They must have left, yes?" She muttered. She blushed. "Won't go to hospital because of me, yes?"

She found herself walking over to the sadist. There was a heart monitor and various other pieces of equipment, which Kagura had no idea what were for.

"Kagura…" Okita whispered, causing the girl to immediately look down, face bright red. The man was asleep still, but there was a smirk on his face.

"O-oi, Sadist, who said you could dream about me, huh?" She said, although she was flattered. "So you call me by my name in your dreams, yes?" She leaned closer so that their noses were almost touching. 'He is very handsome,' she thought, looking at his sleeping face. 'What am I thinking?! This is the sadist I am thinking about…' She didn't know what was going on in her head. She had never felt this before. 'What is wrong with me? Is this what Papi called… love…?' "NO WAY," she yelled, recoiling away from him. "I DO NOT LOVE THIS BASTARD!"

Because of her yelling, said bastard opened his eyes. "Eh, China, what are you doing?" He muttered, staring at the girl, whose expression was a mix of embarrassment and shock. "What's up?"

"N-nothing," she said, avoiding his stare. She wasn't too far away from him so he raised an arm and pulled on her clothing to get her nearer.

"Oi, China girl, what are you wearing?" He said, glancing at her attire. Apparently she hadn't noticed because she looked down and was shocked by what she saw. She was wearing a Shinsengumi uniform.

"I did not put this on myself, uh-huh. Where is the outfit I was wearing, huh?" She said, looking around.

"It was probably because what you were wearing was blood-covered. They did the same for me… What I want to know is who changed your clothes," he muttered darkly, when he said 'who' his voice went malicious.

"H-huh? What do you mean?" She asked.

"This compound is full of men… When the doctors were all in here, I didn't see any nurses… Your visitors, Danna and the glasses, are male," Sougo explained, angrily. "Therefore the person who changed you must have been male."

"I do not understand… Why are you angry?"

"Tch, China, you're stupid. You are a woman and clearly a man has gotten you changed without your knowledge of it… He might have touched you…"

"So? You have to touch someone to get them changed…?"

"I mean touched you there and there," he yelled, pointing at her lower region and at her chest.

"O-OH!" Kagura screamed in response, finally understand. "What a pervert! Who did it?! I will kill him, yes?"

"Relax, China," he replied, despite the fact that it was clear that he too was angered. "If we just check the label, I'm sure we'll know who it was… Turn around."

"O-okay," she said, unsure about this. The idea of not seeing what her rival was doing unnerved her. This could be a ploy to attack her. 'No, wait… He is too injured to do that, yes? And he is not a coward, he would always prefer a fair fight against me, uh-huh… Although he is a sadist…' She thought.

Okita did not attack Kagura, although he did use the opportunity to check out her ass. 'China really has matured over the years,' he thought, smirking to himself. He pulled on the back of the Shinsengumi jacket she was wearing so he could reach the tag. "Tch, kneel down, I can't see it and I can't get up."

"Fine," she said, doing so.

"Okay, it says… WHAT?!"

"What does it say?"

"Nothing…"

"S-sadist?! Whose uniform is this?"

"Mine…"

"IT WAS YOU, YOU SICK PERVERT!" She screamed, raising a fist, prepared to hit him.

"China, it's obvious it wasn't me," he said simply, grabbing her fist. "Calm down."

"But you said the label would tell us who it was."

"How could it be me? I haven't moved from this bed. Obviously they just gave you one of my spares because they thought I wouldn't mind, and because I am one of the closest to your height… It's still much too big for you though."

"Who put it on me then?"

"I don't know. We will have to ask Kondo-san next time he comes in here."

"Okay. Um, do you mind?"

"Mind what?"

"That I am wearing this?"

"I don't care, China."

"Oh, okay."

"It looks stupid on you though. You should take it off," he deadpanned. She stared at him in surprise, but soon burst out laughing. "What?"

"That was in one of Gin-chan's dirty magazines… That exact line, uh-huh," she replied, laughing. Upon realisation of something, she stopped laughing and began to blush with wide eyes.

"What now?"

"In the magazine, yes? The guy used that to flirt with the girl, uh-huh. You are flirting with me, yes?"

"Don't be absurd, China. I wouldn't flirt with you."

"You were though… You flirted with me, yes!"

"I was making a joke!"

"Sure, whatever you say, Sadist," she said, grinning.

"Why do you look so happy?"

"No reason! I just realised something the Gorilla said to Mayora might be true, uh-huh, and I am kind of happy about it, yes?"

"You're weird, China."

"You are weirder, yes?"

"Shut up."

"Sougo! Queen-sama!" Kondo said, walking in. "You're both awake? Ah, yes. How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Sougo muttered and Kagura nodded.

"Good, I'm glad," Kondo smiled.

"Hey, Kondo-san, who changed China's clothes?" Sougo asked, frowning.

"Oh, that was Otae," Kondo answered with a weird smile on his face.

"Anego was here?!" Kagura said, disappointed to have missed her.

"Yes. Your boss was supposed to bring some of your clothes but he forgot, so we had to put you in Sougo's clothes."

"Oh," Kagura and Okita said in unison.

"Anyway, you two, you need rest," he said, then looking at Kagura, he added. "You will be able to go home in a couple of days. Sougo, you will probably be like this for a few more weeks."

After Kondo left, Okita fell asleep quickly. Kagura turned to go back to her own bed, but Okita's hand grabbed onto her sleeve.

"Don't leave me," he whispered, "Aneue…"

And she didn't. She stood next to him for an hour, but growing tired, she laid down on his bed.

"I will not leave you like Kamui left me, Sadis-… No, Sougo…"

Hiya, thanks for reading.

Many thanks to all who reviewed the first ten chapters and to everyone who reviews this one. It's very, very helpful.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GOOD CHRISTMAS TOO! 3
I don't know why, but to me this feels like a filler chapter… e.e

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
I will update as soon as possible.
I don't own Gintama or the characters. :P