Disclaimer: The characters of Gintama belong to Sorachi Hideaki. :)

Authors Note: This is my longest chapter ever! :D Enjoy chapter 7! =)

Chap. 7 You Never Realize How Much People Care For You

Gintoki walks silently through the shoji into Otose's bar, the early morning light streaming in. He hadn't talked to her since she yelled at him to go away.

Gintoki freezes as he hears a voice, "I may be old, but I have really good ears."

Gintoki's mouth twitches, he looks at Otose coming out of the doorway beside the bar. Rubbing the back of his head, he says absent- mindedly, "Um, it's kind of stupid to ask you this after what happened," he pauses, "Can I have some sake?"

Otose stares at Gintoki for a moment, she snorts, "Gintoki, I was mad at you because I thought you were being too rash." She shakes her head, "Then I realized, even though you act like a kid, you're still smart." She smiles, "You can make your own decisions."

Gintoki smirks, "So, that means I can have some sake?"

Otose's eyes narrow, "Hey! I was acting pretty cool right there!" She shakes her head, chuckling, "You never change Gintoki, but every day you surprise me." She grins, "I'm happy though, because it's a good thing." She walks behind the bar, rummaging through the shelves, she sets a glass on the counter and a sake bottle.

Gintoki smiles, walking over and sitting on a stool. "That's something someone said to me once," he whispers, a bemused look in his eyes.

Otose pours the sake in the glass handing it to Gintoki, "Who said that?" She asks, an eyebrow raised.

Gintoki sighs, his eyes looking more like a dead fishes eyes, "My sensei," he whispers. He looks up at the ceiling, trying to suppress the memories that would come all too quickly.

Otose looks at him out of the corner of her eye, but quickly leaves walking through the doorway beside the bar, muttering to Gintoki, "I need to get Catherine."

Gintoki nods slightly, sighing. He turns his head when the shoji opens he sees Shinpachi and Kagura walk in. The rims of Kagura's eyes are stained red. She must have been crying again.

Shinpachi sits down next to Gintoki, he raises an eyebrow, "Your drinking sake this early in the morning?"

Gintoki shrugs. Kagura walks over and sits on the other side of Gintoki, she tilts her head, "What's wrong, Gin- chan?"

He shakes his head, "Nothing," he smiles, "Just tired."

Kagura nods her head, but clearly doesn't believe him.

Otose walks back into the bar, Catherine in tow.

Kagura grins sadistically at Catherine, "You look more shitty than usual." Catherine turns sharply at Kagura her eyes bloodshot.

"I have a freakin hangover, so shut the hell up!" Catherine yells. She squints at Kagura, smiling, "Like you should be talking. Did you put sriracha sauce around your eyes?"

Kagura growls, "You better watch it, you cat- eared freak."

Before Catherine can retort, Otose yells, "Would you two shut the hell up?!" She looks at Catherine, "Please do your job and start cleaning the bar!" Catherine turns grumbling, but not before glaring at Kagura's smug face.

Shinpachi looks at Gintoki, "We have another job, so don't drink too much."

Gintoki groans, "Another one? What is it this time?"

Shinpachi's eyes narrow, "What are you complaining for? We need the money." Shinpachi sighs, "It's another cleaning job."

Gintoki scowls, "Again?! Where at?"

"Snack Smile." Shinpachi says.

"What!" Gintoki screams, "Can't those lazy asses clean up their own messes?!"

Shinpachi chuckles, "Matsudaira- san of the Shinsengumi tore the whole place up last night. The boss wants us to clean it up."

Gintoki sighs, "Knowing that drunkard it's probably worse than it sounds."

Shinpachi nods, "Don't worry, sis and some of her friends said they would help us."

Gintoki sets the empty glass on the counter, "Well we better get going." He gets off the stool, walking towards the shoji. He looks back at Kagura eating a bowl of rice, "C'mon Kagura."

Kagura dumps the last few pieces of rice into her mouth, nodding.

Gintoki, Shinpachi, and Kagura walk through Snack Smile's front doors and down the corridor. They stop short of the stairs, mouths agape at the sight before them.

Tables were flipped over, but mostly all of them were broken. The benches were smashed inwards, bottles were strewn everywhere and broken. To sum it up, there was no clean spots on the floor.

"How the HELL can one man do this?!" Gintoki screams.

"This will take forever!" Shinpachi shrieks.

Kagura turns around, walking back towards the door, "Good luck!" She yells over her shoulder.

"You get the hell back here!" Gintoki screams.

As Kagura approaches the door, the door goes outward smacking her in the face. Kagura falls back holding her nose.

"Kagura- chan! I'm so sorry!" Otae exclaims, running through the door to Kagura. "Are you alright?"

"Big sis…" Kagura says eyes shimmering. Otae leans forward giving Kagura a hug.

Gintoki sighs, "Can we stop with the reunion and get this shit done?" Otae nods, helping Kagura up.

Otae surveys the room, eyes troubled, "I didn't realize it was this bad. To think one man did this."

They look at the front door as Oryou comes through looking pissed. She looks at Otae, "Sorry, but I'm the only one that's coming."

Otae sighs, "What about the rest?"

Oryou scowls, "They all had stupid excuses for not coming."

Otae shakes her head, "We'll just have to do what we can, for now."

Gintoki stiffens. Shinpachi glances at him, "What's wrong Gin- san?"

"What's that noise?" Gintoki says, looking up at the ceiling.

Shinpachi raises an eyebrow, "Gin- san I don't-"

"Get down!" Gintoki screams.

A huge crash deafens their ears as the tip of a ship crashes through the ceiling, smashing into the ground.

When the dust settles the door opens and a ramp descends. A person clad in a purple coat and a sedge hat, obscuring their features walks down the ramp.

When the person reaches the bottom of the ramp they stop, taking off their hat. "I'm terribly sorry, but my captain is a terrible steerer."

Shinpachi's eyes widen, "Mutsu- san!"

Mutsu gives a nod, but before she can say anything, a man comes running down the ramp, looking green. When he reaches the bottom of the ramp, he trips over a dom peri bottle, his face smashing into the trash strewn ground. He lifts his head up, blood dripping down his face.

"Oh, I made it," Tatsuma says, laughing. No longer looking green. He looks over at Gintoki, he grins. "Kintoki! What are you doing here?" He asks, standing up. "Did I smash into your house again?"

Gintoki and Shinpachi's mouths twitch, they run forward drop-kicking Tatsuma.

"You just made our job worse!" Shinpachi shrieks.

"Learn to steer your ship, you jackass!" Gintoki screams.

When they're done kicking him, Tatsuma looks at his surroundings. He gasps, "This is Snack Smile. Is-" He stops when he looks up at the bottom of the stairs, smiling he jumps through the air. "Oryou- chan! You're alright!" He exclaims happily.

Oryou smiles, she kicks out with her right leg, connecting with Tatsuma's groin. He freezes falling in front of Oryou, groaning. She grins devilishly, "Yes I' am, but you're not."

Otae sighs, "This will take a while," she looks at Mutsu, "Would you mind helping us Mutsu- san?"

Mutsu nods, "My captain will gladly help."

"Mutsu!" Tatsuma whines.

Mutsu tilts her head, venom dripping off her words, "Well you'll be able to spend quality time with Oryou."

Tatsuma laughs uneasily, "W-Why so cold Mutsu?"

Mutsu glares at him for a second before turning to Otae, "I'm sorry, but I have to go do what we came to earth for." Her eyes flash as she looks back at Tatsuma, "My captain will gladly stay here and help with this mess." Mutsu bows slightly, she walks up the stairs and through the front doors.

When Mutsu is gone, Otae smiles, "Okay let's get started. The brooms are over there," she points at a closet. Kagura walks over, opening the door and grabbing a broom. She throws enough brooms out of the closet, so that everyone has one.

When Tatsuma picks up his broom, Gintoki walks over to him, "Hey Kintoki!" Tatsuma laughs. "We're comrades again, but in cleaning!"

Gintoki's eyes flash as he looks at Tatsuma, "If you mess this up Tatsuma, I'll shove that broom so far up your ass, you won't be able to shit ever again."

Tatsuma laughs, "Kintoki, you're always so cold!"

Gintoki smashes his broom in Tatsuma's face. The broom snaps in two as Tatsuma flies into the wall. Rubble flies everywhere. His eyes flash, "Don't call me Kintoki, you dumbass."

Gintoki spits out blood as he's hit behind the head. Shinpachi screams, "You idiot! Stop making this place worse!"

Kagura sighs, "Big sis, can't we just leave this to them?"

Otae shakes her head, "Sorry, Kagura, but they'd only make it worse if we weren't here." She walks over to Gintoki, Shinpachi and Tatsuma who had recovered. Otae closes her eyes smiling, she cracks her knuckles, "If you three don't work," she opens her eyes slowly, "You won't see the light of day ever again."

"Y-Yes ma'am," all three of them say in unison.

Otae giggles.

Kamui is sitting down, his back against the wall. Abuto is across from him looking bored. Kamui's antennae twitches, "Abuto, I think he's coming back now."

Abuto's face brightens, "Really? We finally get to have some action?"

Kamui smiles, "Yeah, but I'm wondering what'll happen to Gintoki. He told that lady that he was going into this fight alone."

Abuto smirks, "Captain, do you really think his friends would let him go in alone?"

Kamui leans his head against the wall, "I know that, but…"

Abuto sighs, "Captain, if you're really worried about that man," he grins, "Why don't you do something about it."

Kamui laughs, "Abuto, this is why I need you. You always know what to say."

Abuto narrows his eyes, "Is that sarcasm?"

Kamui shakes his head, chuckling. "I wouldn't have gotten through all this without you."

Abuto smiles smugly, "I'm sorry, but I didn't hear you very well."

Kamui's eye twitches, "You heard me, you idiot!"

Abuto falls back laughing, looking at Kamui's red face.

"Stop laughing!" Kamui hisses "I'll kill you!"

Abuto grins, laying back, his arm behind his head. He looks up at the ceiling.

Kamui gets up, "I'm going to get some rice," he mumbles.

Once he's gone Abuto sighs, "Gintoki, I'm glad you came into his life. All I can say is you sure as hell changed him." He frowns, "He still wants to fight though. It's all good, I'm glad he didn't change completely. Life wouldn't be any fun if he changed that much." Abuto chuckles.

Kamui on the other side of the shoji bites his lip, having heard everything, "I haven't changed, Abuto," he whispers. "That man can just bring the good out in you." He smiles, walking out to find some place that would give him rice.

Takasugi presses his back against the alley wall, as a few of the Shinsengumi run by. He looks across the street at the sign that says, "Yorozuya, Gin- chan" He chuckles, "How quaint," he whispers.

He about jumps out of the alleyway in revelation, exposing himself to the ever wandering Shinsengumi, when he hears an all too familiar voice belonging to a musician.

"Takasugi- dono! Are you ready to find Sakata Gintoki?!" Bansai yells.

Takasugi turns abruptly on Bansai, "Would you shut up!" He hisses quietly. "You want them to hear us?!"

Bansai shrugs, "I want some action!" He yells.

"Stop yelling!" Takasugi screams. He quickly turns his head, seeing that the coast is clear he looks back at Bansai, "I told you, you'll get to fight soon." He growls, "Be patient."

Bansai sighs, "Alright, whatever."

Takasugi smiles, "Let's go to what's left of the terminal, that's where this will all play out."

"We're done!" Kagura exclaims, "With the right side of the room!" She adds with a smile.

Gintoki and Tatsuma groan. Gintoki shakes his head, "How can you have so much energy, you brat?" He sighs, "When you get our age, you'll be a lazy bum."

Kagura pouts, "I'll never be a loser like you two."

Otae sighs, "I didn't think it would take this long. It's almost dark now."

Shinpachi shakes his head, "I know, but the real question is…" His mouth twitches, "What the hell are we going to do with that ship?!" He screams, pointing at Tatsuma's ship.

Tatsuma laughs uneasily, rubbing the back of his head, "Decoration?" He suggests.

Shinpachi throws a dom peri bottle at him. "Sis! How are we going to explain it to your boss?"

Otae shrugs, "Someone can probably get it out, it's not the first time a ship crashed into a place," she looks over at Gintoki smiling, he scowls at her.

Gintoki sighs, "Can't we just say it was bad enough in here and we made it better."

"Hell no!" Shinpachi yells.

"Um, excuse me." A voice says from the top of the stairs. "Yorozuya, you can take a break today and continue tomorrow."

Otae smiles, "Thank you manager."

The manager narrows his eyes, "You were here Otae?" Before she can answer, he looks over and sees the ship. "How the hell did that get in here?!" The manager screams.

Tatsuma laughs, "It's a new decoration."

Shinpachi punches him in the face, his eyes flashing angrily.

The manager sighs, "I heard the Yorozuya could do a really good job of helping you, because they were strong, but I also heard they could cause huge problems."

"Oi! Don't pin his stupidity on our work!" Gintoki screams, pointing at Tatsuma.

The manager holds his hands up in surrender, "We'll figure it out tomorrow. For now, you can leave."

Gintoki and Shinpachi smile at each other, running as fast as they can up the stairs and out the door.

Kagura stands beside Otae picking her nose. Otae sighs, "Well let's go, Kagura." Kagura nods, walking with Otae towards the door.

"Wait, don't leave me!" Tatsuma yells, running after them.

Kamui sighs, having had his fill of rice which consisted of more than twenty bowls. He walks out of the diner, but stops short when he sees two girls looking at him giggling, he raises an eyebrow at them. They turn to each other giggling excitedly, faces red.

Kamui shakes his head confused, "I'll never understand women," he says quietly. He looks to the other side of the path, his eyes widen as he sees someone walking away wearing a purple yukata with butterflies scattered all over it. Beside him was the musician.

"What is he doing now?" Kamui asks himself under his breath. He sighs in annoyance as he still feels the girls' eyes on him.

"Kamui," a voice says playfully behind him. Kamui gasps, but is too quick for the assailant as he kicks where Kamui had been. Kamui jumps, somersaulting through the air, he lands in a crouch, scowling at the attacker.

"Well your leg is better. Being a Yato is amazing, isn't it?" The Yato says with a bloodthirsty grin.

Kamui's eyes widen, as he looks at the Yato that called him weak and wanted to fight Gintoki. "You left with that samurai." Kamui says confused.

The Yato laughs, "Yeah, I left." He grins, "I left to tell the higher- ups about him. They want to meet him."

Kamui grits his teeth, lunging at the Yato, "You son of a bitch!" He screams.

The Yato laughs happily, throwing out his fist, as does Kamui. They connect with each other's faces, they both fall back. The Yato gets up quicker than Kamui, raising his foot to crush his skull. Kamui lashes his foot upwards, connecting with the Yato's face, he flips over as the Yato falls back with a groan.

Kamui's eyes widen, he turns his head. The girls are still looking, amazement and fear clear on their faces. Kamui sighs, "You should go now," he says to the girls. They nod quickly running the opposite way.

While Kamui was telling them to go, he didn't notice the Yato had gotten up. The Yato lashes out with his leg, connecting with Kamui's stomach. Blood explodes out of Kamui's mouth. He catches himself skidding, stopping inches from hitting the wall.

"Why did you let them leave," the Yato laughs, "You truly have gotten soft."

Kamui growls, "If I'm so soft, then why would I kill you?" He about launches himself at the Yato again, but stops when the Yato chuckles.

"I meant with humans, Kamui." Kamui narrows his eyes, "When you came back from Yosiwora you were so happy to find a human that could actually beat you in a fight. You even said you wanted to kill him." The Yato's eyes flash, "Now you won't even do that!" He hisses.

The Yato grins, lunging at Kamui. He falls on him, trying to rip his throat out. Kamui grabs the Yato's wrists snapping them back, the Yato grits his teeth.

Kamui flips him over wrestling him into a headlock. Kamui grins sadistically, he leans to whisper into the Yato's ear, "See you in hell," he hisses. He twists hard, hearing the bones in the Yato's neck snap. The wide dark eyes go blank, as the life disappears. Kamui drops the body heavily.

Kamui sighs, smiling, "I guess I have to see what that samurai has planned." He turns the way Takasugi had gone.

"I'm so tired," Shinpachi complains.

"I' am to, but you don't see me complaining," Gintoki says groggily.

Shinpachi sighs, "Whatever," he grumbles.

Suddenly Gintoki starts walking faster. "Hey! Gin- san!"

Gintoki shushes him as they pass the terminal. Shinpachi looks at the rubble, nodding. He finally catches up with Gintoki, "Is it bad memories," he asks.

Gintoki shrugs, "I'm tired. I'll drop you off at your house."

Shinpachi nods sadly, looking at Gintoki's downcast face.

Gintoki walks into Otose's bar, having dropped off Shinpachi. Otose was in there cleaning the counter off.

"No customers?" Gintoki asks.

Otose nods, "It's been a really slow night."

Gintoki sighs, before he can say anything Otose whispers, "You can go, but please promise me you'll come back."

Gintoki sighs, "You know I can't promise that."

Otose bites he lip, "Where did you see him?"

"By the terminal," Gintoki replies.

Otose raises an eyebrow, "What's he doing there? Does he want to fight on broken land?"

Gintoki shrugs, "I don't care, I just want to get this over with."

Otose clenches her fists, a tear running down her face, "I told you, you can make your own decisions, but now that it's really happening," she pauses holding back tears, "I don't think I can take it." She finishes, whispering.

Gintoki sighs again, "Otose, I'm sorry." He smiles slightly, "Tell everyone else I'm sorry to."

Otose bites her lip, nodding, "If you don't come back I won't forgive you."

Gintoki nods, still smiling, "Goodbye."

"Oi! I just told you to come back alive and you just ignore me and say goodbye?!" Otose screams.

Gintoki turns, waving over his shoulder.

Otose sighs, "Please, please come back," she whispers.

"Shinsuke- sama, is he coming?" Matako asks.

Takasugi nods, "Yeah, I saw him walking by. It looked like he was dropping off that kid first." His eyes flash, "He'll be coming shortly." All the Harusame fidget, impatiently.

Takasugi's head snaps forward, when he hears a voice say playfully, "Hey Takasugi."

Takasugi glares at Gintoki's idiotic grin. He raises an eyebrow, "You came alone Gintoki?"

Gintoki chuckles, "Yeah," he pulls his wooden sword out, extending his arm to the side. He smiles devilishly, "I could beat you all myself."

Takasugi opens his mouth to say something, but stops when Bansai starts screaming.

"What's wrong, Bansai- sama?!" Matako screams.

Bansai falls to the ground ripping off his headphones, blood streams out of his ears, trailing down his neck. "H-His song..." "I-It's just shrill screaming." Bansai covers his ears, rocking on the ground, gritting his teeth to the damage done to his eardrums.

Gintoki laughs sadistically, "The demon must have come out."

An amanto in the front screams as do some other amanto, "Get him!" They charge towards Gintoki.

"No, wait!" Takasugi yells. A strange expression on his face.

Gintoki sets himself, about to attack, but stops in shock. The amanto scream as they're attacked, a wooden sword hitting one across the face and a powerful punch instantly knocking out another.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Gintoki screams at the two.

"No, the question is what the hell are YOU doing here, you asshole!" Shinpachi screams.

"You left without even telling us, you lazy ass!" Kagura shrieks.

"Well maybe I didn't want you freaks here!" Gintoki screams back.

"Aw, that's not nice Gintoki," Tsukuyo says walking towards them. The hyaku following close behind her.

"We just want to join the fun," Saigo says, holding his sledgehammer. The rest of the trannies are gathered around waving at Gintoki flirtatiously.

"Hey bro!" Pirako waves, grinning widely. Jirocho is standing beside her smiling, hand on his sword.

"Boss!" Sougo yells, bazooka in hand. The rest of the Shinsengumi are behind him, swords poised.

"Hey, Yorozuya!" Kondo yells, giving him a thumbs up.

Hijikata smiles, lighting a cigarette.

"Gin- san!" Otae waves happily, a bunch of cabaret girls behind her, wielding spears. Kyyubei smiles, walking next to Otae, all of the Yagyuu family following close behind.

Hey, Gin- san!" Hasawage yells, with the rest of the bums behind holding sticks.

Gin- san!" A loving voice calls. Sa- chan jumps towards him, but Gintoki ducks while Kagura kicks Sa- chan out of the way. Zenzou walks out from the alley, saluting Gintoki.

"Gintoki- sama, you thought you could just walk out on us?" Tama asks, mop raised. Catherine is beside her scowling at Gintoki.

"Hey Gintoki," Kyoroisama says, the rest of the hosts wave, happily.

Tetsuko walks up beside them, nodding her head, grinning.

Otose walks up beside Tama and Catherine smiling. Sadaharu follows behind.

"It was you," Gintoki whispers.

Otose laughs, "Yeah, I called them all here."

Gintoki's eyes darken, "How could you?" He whispers. His eyes widen as a hand touches him on the shoulder.

Katsura smiles, "We'd never let you go in alone."

Sakamoto puts his hand on Gintoki's other shoulder, "Gintoki we will always be comrades. We'll be with you till the end." He laughs.

Otose chuckles, "You should be grateful Gintoki. These people came to help your ass! You've helped and protected them all this time, and they want to thank you. So deal with it you lazy bum!"

Takasugi laughs, "Gintoki, you brought all your friends to die." He looks at Katsura and Tatsuma, he shakes his head sadly, "In the end, everyone turns on me."

"Everyone had already turned on you, Takasugi," Katsura says coldly.

A playful laugh turns everyone's heads.

Kamui's eyes shine brightly, Abuto is beside him, "Abuto look, so many strong people have gathered in one place."

He looks sadistically at Gintoki, "Which side should we fight first?" His smile turns into an insane grin.

Authors Note: Hey!~ Hope you liked it! Look forward to next chapter!