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

Authors Note: Thank you everyone for the nice reviews, you're all amazing! Enjoy chapter 9!

Chap. 9 Promises Are Really Important

Gintoki looks around, everything is dark except for the light shining, illuminating him. A soft breeze hits him lightly; cherry blossom petals come out of nowhere floating slowly to the ground.

"This is a dream," he whispers, "I've seen it before though."

His eyes widen as he remembers, "Benizakura," he whispers.

"He brought you to die, y' know," a cold chilling voice hisses.

Gintoki turns around quickly, gasping. "Takasugi!"

Takasugi laughs, "You tried to help him, you wanted to protect him the way he protected you." He grins, "But you died." Takasugi launches himself forward. Blood explodes as the sword enters Gintoki's chest. It's the benizakura sword. "You can't protect him; he would always have to protect you. At least you're not a burden anymore, Shinpachi."

The view changes as Gintoki stands staring at Shinpachi's dead body, as Takasugi rips the sword out of his chest. He turns to Gintoki with a sick grin, "All your friends will die by my hands."

Gintoki wakes up with a start, "SHINPACHI!" He screams.

He breathes hard, hearing the faint beeping of the heart monitor. "What? Where am I?" he whispers. He sits up looking around the white room filled with medical equipment; he looks down seeing that he's dressed in his green pajamas. "I'm in the hospital." His eyes widen, "Shinpachi!" he screams again. He throws his feet over the edge of the bed, landing on the tiled floor. He falls to the ground his legs feeling like lead.

Gintoki groans, struggling to get up, using the bed for support. He stumbles to the door, falling to the ground once he's through.

"Gin- chan! Gintoki!" He hears multiple people scream his name. He looks up, but has to close his eyes from the bright light.

Kagura touches his shoulder lightly, "Gin- chan, you have to get back to bed."

"Gintoki!" Tsukuyo runs up to him, "Kagura's right, your wounds will open again."

Gintoki shakes his head, "S-Shinpachi," he croaks.

"That kid is fine," Kamui says, walking up to them, worry on his face.

"We actually don't know that," Kagura whispers. She looks into Gintoki's eyes, "You've been out for three days," she pauses, "And so has Shinpachi."

"Where IS he," Gintoki hisses. He looks up knowing Kamui will give him the answer.

Kamui bites his lip, pointing to the room straight down the hall.

Gintoki nods at him, legs trembling as he stands. He holds onto the wall for support, sliding it along as he walks slowly to Shinpachi's room. Everyone stays behind, knowing Gintoki doesn't want to be disturbed.

"Wait, you can't go in there!" A nurse runs up to him. "He's in critical condition, he can't be disturbed!"

Gintoki looks at her with menacing crimson eyes. The nurse steps back, frightened. Gintoki's eyes quickly soften, "I-I'm sorry, but I need to see him," he rasps.

The nurse hesitates, but soon relents, nodding her head.

"Thank you," Gintoki whispers, walking through the door. He sees Shinpachi his breathing soft and slow. He sighs, "I really got you into some bad shit." He touches Shinpachi's forehead lightly, "You better not die, you're better than that." He shakes his head sadly, "Fight it," he hisses.

"You still can't cry Gintoki- sama." Gintoki turns seeing Tama in the doorway. Tama smiles, "He will not die," she looks at Shinpachi, "I believe in him." She looks back at Gintoki, "I believe in you too." A tear runs down her cheek, "You can do anything," she whispers.

Gintoki chuckles, he turns to Shinpachi, he wraps his pinkie around Shinpachi's pinkie holding it up, "There," he whispers, "We just made a promise. You promise me you'll stay alive and I promise to," he pauses, "I promise to protect you for the rest of my life. Also everyone else," he hisses, "I won't let anyone else hurt you."

Gintoki gasps as he's embraced from behind. "You better promise us too Gin- chan," Kagura whispers into the small of his back.

He smiles as Tsukuyo, Otae, Tama, Sougo, and Kondo join the hug. Kondo has to hit Hijikata atop the head to join. Kamui stands off to the side by Abuto, smiling.

Once everyone releases Gintoki, he looks over at Kamui. Before Kamui can react he grabs him by the shoulder hugging him. Everyone's jaws drop in shock. "There," he says, still hugging Kamui, "I just promised I'd protect you."

When Gintoki lets go, Kamui steps back in shock, "W-Why would I need protecting?" He whispers.

Gintoki shrugs, smiling. He looks over at Abuto, "C'mon," he says opening up his arms.

"Hell no!" Abuto yells. Everyone else laughs, even Kamui, but his laugh is uneasy. Gintoki notices this.

"What's wrong," he asks Kamui.

Kamui bites his lip, "You remember that Yato that wanted to fight you?"

Gintoki nods, "Yeah, dickhead."

Kamui doesn't laugh, "He really did it." He whispers looking into Gintoki's eyes, "He called the elders and their coming for you."

Gintoki bites his lip; he looks at the ground rubbing his head, deep in thought. He sighs, looking back up at Kamui; "Okay I give up. Who the hell are the elders?"

Kamui narrows his eyes, "You're telling me you have no idea who the elders are?" He looks at everyone else in the room; they shrug their shoulders in confusion. He looks at Kagura last. Kagura's eyes had gone wide, tears about to spill over.

"B-Brother, what are you talking about?" Tears run down her face as she screams, "Why the hell are they coming for Gin- chan?!"

Kamui shakes his head angrily, "I have no idea." He looks at Abuto to make sure, but he shakes his head also.

Gintoki shrugs, "Who cares."

"Who cares?!" Kamui and Kagura scream in unison.

"Gin- chan," Kagura says worry in her voice, "They are rumored to be the strongest amanto in the universe."

Gintoki grins, pointing at her, "You said rumored!" He tilts his head, "We'll deal with them when they come. For now we should all rest."

Kamui sighs, "Maybe you're right," he smiles, "But you'll have to protect all of us, remember."

Gintoki scratches the back of his head, "How many of them are there?" He asks.

"Six," Kamui replies.

Gintoki narrows his eyes, "Oi, only six? That's what you were worried about?"

Kamui shrugs, "I don't believe them to be strong, what I'm worried about is their status in power." He looks into Gintoki's crimson orbs, "I don't know what they would do if they found you to be too strong."

Gintoki raises an eyebrow, "What if they don't want to fight me, they just want to meet me?"

"That's even worse," Kamui whispers.

Gintoki sighs, "Okay, let's go." He touches his head lightly, "I'm getting a little light headed."

Nine eyes darken, "Well you better get in your damn bed then!" Everyone screams.

Katsura sighs, sitting on a bench next to the dango shop "This is all so complicated Tatsuma."

Tatsuma nods slightly, "I hope Gintoki," he pauses, "I mean Kintoki is alright."

Katsura laughs, "Don't worry, he's strong."

Tatsuma shakes his head, "No, I mean with that kid. He seemed really pissed off." He looks over the rim of his sunglasses, "He kind of scared me."

"That kid means a lot to him," Katsura says sadly. He looks over at Tatsuma, "Why did you come back to earth?"

Tatsuma sighs, "My job."

Katsura raises an eyebrow, "Really?"

"You don't believe me anymore?" Tatsuma asks sadly, pouting.

Katsura sighs, "I believe you, either though you're an idiot, but you came here for a different reason."

Tatsuma laughs, "Nothing can get past you, can it?" He sighs, "I had a really bad feeling. Luckily we had something to do on earth."

Katsura nods, looking up at the sky, "They say bad things happen when storms come," Tatsuma raises an eyebrow at him, Katsura points at the sky, "A storm is coming."

The lead amanto and the other five amanto look down from their high pillars at a man in a purple butterfly patterned yukata.

Takasugi smiles, "Well, it's a great honor to be called in by the elders themselves."

The lead amanto nods, "Do you know why you were called here, Takasugi Shinsuke?"

Takasugi shrugs, "I have a vague idea."

"Well that idea is wrong," one amanto snarls.

Takasugi sneers, "Is it really? It's about Gintoki, isn't it? It was kind of obvious when I finally get to destroying this rotten world," he gestures outward, "Then here I' am."

The lead amanto glares at him, "We don't care about earth, we care only about Sakata Gintoki," Takasugi's eyes widen as the lead amanto points at him, "You're in the way," the amanto grins, "You need to die."

Takasugi steps back in shock, "What are you-"

The amanto laughs, "Of course we will not kill you now, because we need you." Takasugi narrows his eyes. The amanto continues, "We would like you to have another battle in Edo." All six of the amanto nod. The amanto grins eagerly, "We would like to see Sakata Gintoki's power in person."

Takasugi raises an eyebrow, "Why do you want to see Gintoki's strength?"

The amanto laughs, "To become an elder! What did you think Takasugi?"

"You think he'd actually go for that?!" Takasugi snarls.

The amanto waves a hand, grinning, "We'll see, Takasugi."

"Now leave," one of the six says.

"Make sure you do as we ask," another says, "Or you will suffer the consequences."

"You think I'm scared of some amanto scum?!" Takasugi screams.

All six of the amanto burst out laughing. The lead shakes his head, "We don't need you to be scared of us," his eyes show slightly under his sedge hat, "We just need you to do what we ask."

Takasugi glares at them, but bites his tongue. Turning, he storms out of the room.

Once he is gone an amanto turns to the lead, "Do you think he will do as we ask?"

The lead shrugs, "Who knows," he pauses grinning, "Every person has their role in this world, but some just don't like to follow that role."

One amanto laughs, "Like that Yato, Kamui?"

The lead chuckles, "Yes, he was a great loss. We can make up that loss with Sakata Gintoki."

Another amanto asks, "Are we going to kill Kamui?"

The lead nods, "Our roles will not change, so Kamui will have to die." He looks at all the amanto, "Any character who strays off their path is worthless. It's the elders' job to eliminate them." He grins insanely, "Tomorrow we will finally meet Sakata Gintoki."

The rest of the elders nod eagerly.

Authors Note: Hey! With Tama she told Gintoki that he still couldn't cry in the Kintoki arc, (So I won't give anything away if you haven't read the manga.) Hope you liked it! Look forward to next chapter!