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

Authors Note: Hey! Enjoy chapter 17!

Chap. 17 Ah, Strawberry Milk, the Ways of Life.

The lead elder crosses his arms, the small group of elders behind him. He glares at his brother in front of him. The traitor…

The dark figure smiles. The moonlight showing his muscular demeanor. "You think I'm the traitor?"

The lead smirks. "Can you read minds now, brother?" His eyes narrow. "Wouldn't be the first time you didn't tell me something."

The dark figure laughs. "Like your one to talk…" His eyes darken. "I hear you're calling yourself the leader…"

The lead smiles. "Well I' am." He chuckles. "Well the only one with some common sense."

"Common sense? You form a little group to go and fight the Shiroyasha." He smirks. "Have you forgotten your place? You know… I really hate it when people don't know their place… Especially to their leader."

The lead chuckles. "No one thinks of you as the leader anymore. Everyone behind me thinks of me as the leader because I decided to have someone more interesting join us." The real leader says nothing, staring out the window at the full moon. The glow was almost as bright as sunlight. The lead chuckles, continuing. "So, why did you call me here?"

"Saved us the trouble of tracking you down…" He smiles. "Now tell me… Where's Sakata Gintoki?"

The lead scowls. "Why the hell would I tell you that?!"

"You might want to tell us..." A chilling voice says by the door.

The lead's eyes widen. "You're alive…? I killed you."

Takasugi smirks. "You think I'd die from that petty wound?"

"What are you doing with him?!" The lead screams.

The elder tilts his head, a glazed look in his eyes. "Brother, I wish more than anything to destroy this damn world. That's why I'm with him…" He pauses. "Also everyone else…" As if on cue a small group of the elders walk in, sauntering around Takasugi in the doorway. They all gather behind the elder, awaiting orders.

The lead shakes his head in disbelief. "So everyone is here…? Where are the rest?"

The elder smiles. "Back at the ship, awaiting orders." His eyes flash. "Like you should be." The lead glares at him. He smirks. "Tell you what. I'm willing to forget everything that you have done if… you tell me where Sakata Gintoki and all of his friends are."

The lead scowls. "Like I said, why the hell would I tell you that?!"

The elder chuckles. "Well… If you want to live…" As he says this, the elders behind him unsheathe their swords. One of them pulls out a gun instead.

The lead laughs nervously. "W-What would you do when you get to him?"

The elder smiles. "Kill him and everything he cares about." Takasugi blows out a puff of smoke from his pipe, looking at the elder out of the corner of his eye, his face impassive.

The lead's eyes widen, but quickly he smirks, a triumphant look in his eyes. "That won't work. Takasugi Shinsuke wants to kill him for his own purposes."

The elder laughs. "Nice try." He shakes his head. "Doesn't matter who kills him, as long as he dies."

The lead bites his lip, stalling. "W-Why do you want to kill him?"

The elder smirks. "Have you forgotten? We never leave anyone alive that has the potential to wipe out the whole amanto race." He scratches the back of his head, a bemused look in his eyes. "Wait… has there ever been someone like that before…?"

"Don't make up laws as you go!" The lead screams. He smiles. "Besides, you won't be able to kill him. He'd kill you before you could even unsheathe your sword."

The elder's eye twitches in irritation. "Enough of this. Tell us where he is!" The lead glares at him, saying nothing. The elder smiles. "Fine…" He glances over at the elder with the gun, nodding his head.

The one with the gun grins, cocking it he shoots at the lead's foot. The lead screams, as the bullet buries itself in the wood floor. Missing his foot by mere inches. On the verge of hysteria the lead screams. "He's at the Shogun's home!" He gasps as does the rest of the elders behind him.

The elder laughs. "Really? Was that so hard brother?"

The lead's jaw trembles. "O-Okay I'll go now…" He stands up slowly, looking slightly relieved.

The elder laughs. "Leave? After what you did?"

The lead shakes his head in confusion. "But you said…"

The elder chuckles darkly. "Like I'd do that." He grins, unsheathing his own sword. The lead and his group look at elder, scared. The elder glances over at Takasugi who was silently watching. "Takasugi? Would you like to join us?"

Takasugi chuckles, putting his pipe away. He unsheathes his sword. "Why not…" He smirks, his eye wide with blood lust. "Nothing like a killing under a full moon."

The elder grins. "I know right…"

Bloodcurdling screams rise through the night air and enough blood is spilt to cover the moon.

Gintoki stretches nonchalantly in the middle of the amanto. A few of them glare at him. "Don't joke with us!" One screams, running forward. Two others follow suit. Gintoki rolls his shoulders, lazily. He sighs. Swinging his sword, easily killing all three amanto. Gintoki yawns tiredly.

The Shogun looks at Gintoki. "You're so carefree right now, it's annoying." Gintoki gives him a questioning look. Shogun sighs. "Here I' am sweating my ass off and you haven't even broke a sweat."

Gintoki shrugs. "What can I say? I drink strawberry milk."

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?!" Shogun screams.

Gintoki gives him a weird look. "Strawberry milk is the most essential thing to a man's heart. If you don't drink it, the boy inside you won't grow and-" He's interrupted by an irritated voice.

"Um, what the hell are you morons talking about?" An amanto says, eye twitching.

Gintoki glares at the amanto. "Don't interrupt me when I'm talking about the ways of life."

"Who cares about the ways of life! You're going to die anyway!" The amanto screams, running forward, as do the others behind him.

Gintoki and the Shogun run forward, killing the amanto in a matter of seconds.

The Shogun gives Gintoki a disgusted look. "Strawberry milk? Who the hell would want to flavor their milk?"

Gintoki shrugs again. "Like I said, it's the most essential thing in life. It helps the boy in your heart grow."

The Shogun nods once. "Well if it's essential I will have to try it." He smiles. "We can have a drink of strawberry milk together when this is all over."

Gintoki smiles. "Sounds good…"

"I feel like all the amanto in the universe are here!" Hijikata screams.

"Is it too much for you Hijikata- san…?" Sougo asks, lazily. He points his sword at him. "Allow me to relieve the stress."

Before Hijikata can retort Kondo is between them. "I told you, this isn't the time for that."

"Stay out of this gorilla!" Hijikata yells, pushing Kondo aside.

"Don't call me gorilla!" Kondo screams.

"Yeah gorilla! It looks like he actually wants to die!" Sougo yells.

"Wait, we need to work together!" Kondo screams.

"The rest of us will work fine together once this idiot is dead." Sougo says, glaring at Hijikata.

"Why is it that-" Hijikata starts, but is cut off as blood splatters onto the ground in front of him. He looks down slowly at the sword protruding from his chest.

"Well aren't we careless?" A voice says behind Hijikata.

"Toshi! Hijikata!" Kondo and Sougo scream in unison.

As the sword is ripped out, Hijikata falls forward, landing on his knees. Blood spills out of his mouth. "B-Bastard…" He whispers, gritting his teeth.

Kondo's eyes widen as he looks at the attacker. "Y-You're-!"

The elder smiles. "The Shinsengumi has really weakened…"

"Who the hell are you?!" Sougo screams, running forward. He swings his sword, but is easily deflected by the elder's sword.

The elder sighs. "I don't want to fight you right now…" He looks over at Kondo. "You're the captain, right?" He smiles. "May I ask where Sakata Gintoki is?"

"W-Why the hell do you want to know that bastard?" Hijikata mutters. His knees shake as he stands. He turns slowly around to glare at the elder.

The elder smiles. "Well, looks like the Shinsengumi is strong after all…"

Hijikata smiles slightly. "What would you want with that curly- haired idiot?"

"Hm… I'd like to kill him…" The elder answers with a smirk.

Their eyes widen as the rest of the elders appear, surrounding them, but it doesn't stop there. More elders come, making their way through the groups of amanto and Shinsengumi still fighting.

Hijikata chuckles. "All of this just to kill that idiot…"

Sougo steps forward, standing next to Hijikata. He glares at the elder, positioning his sword. "I won't let you get near boss, you filthy bastard."

The elder laughs. "So are you his friends?" Kondo steps forward after he says this. The elder smiles, looking at Hijikata. "Well… Guess I was right to stab you…" He chuckles. "So, will we have to get through you three?" He looks behind him. "You guys can go ahead…" They all nod, running for the house.

"Hey!" Sougo yells, he turns to run after them, but is met by the tip of a sword. Takasugi chuckles.

Kondo's eyes widen. "Takasugi Shinsuke…?" He looks over at the elder. "You're working with a criminal?"

The elder laughs. "Don't you think this will be enough to destroy this world?"

Kondo shakes his head in disbelief. "Destroy…?" His eyes turn fierce. "You're the ones who wanted this freakin planet! Why would you want to destroy it?!"

The elder smirks. "Maybe to start anew… This planet has become corrupted."

"This planet became corrupted when you amanto bastards came here!" Kondo's eyes widen as he says the thing that shouldn't be said.

The elder's eyes darken. "Even the Shinsengumi who follow us like useless dogs have those thoughts, huh?" He smirks, looking over at Takasugi. "You go on ahead." His eyes flash. "I'll kill them myself."

Takasugi smiles, turning to walk towards the house. He gets his kiseru out, positioning it between his lips.

"Get back here!" Sougo screams, starting to run after him. He's too focused on Takasugi to see a dark shadow descending behind. Sougo turns, gritting his teeth. "Shit!" He yells as a sword enters his shoulder.

The elder chuckles in Sougo's face. "Are you prepared to die, Shinsengumi?" His eyes widen with bloodlust, blood splattering onto the ground.

"Sougo!" Kondo screams.

Kamui puts his hands on his knees, panting. Abuto smirks. "Oh, is this too hard for you captain?"

"Shut up Abuto…" Kamui growls. He sighs, looking at the still standing captains and lieutenants. "None of them will go down."

Abuto smiles. "Well that's why we're the Harusame." He looks over at Kamui, chuckling. "Captain… Don't you think we should show them how strong the seventh division really is?"

Kamui smirks. "What makes you think this isn't how strong we really are?"

Abuto scowls. "Don't bullshit me. I know you're holding back you monster."

Kamui laughs. "Why do you assume that?"

"Assume my ass." Abuto retorts. He smirks. "You don't want others to think that you're weak, do you?"

Kamui grimaces. "I need to save my energy to kill those damn elders."

Abuto smirks. "Screw saving your energy. The elders aren't here anyway."

"Huh?" Kamui says surprised. He looks behind him. He gives a smile. "What'd they do? Run away?"

Abuto shrugs. "Who knows…"

Kamui sighs. "Well Abuto," he gets into his stance, "You ready?" Abuto chuckles, nodding.

"Doesn't it seem like the number of amanto are increasing?" Shogun asks, looking at Gintoki.

Gintoki looks around at the amanto who were waiting for the right time to attack. He nods his head. "Shouldn't the Shinsengumi be-"

"Gintoki!" Shogun screams, interrupting him.

Gintoki's eyes widen as he whirls around, raising his sword. He brings his leg back, so he won't be pushed back as another sword clashes against his. The elder leers down at him, him being much taller than Gintoki. "So you're Sakata Gintoki?" he asks, chuckling.

Gintoki raises an eyebrow. "Well you're new…"

The elder laughs. "You won't have to worry about the others that have been bothering you anymore."

Gintoki smiles. "You killed them?"

"Yes…" The elder's eyes flash. "Like we'll kill you."

Gintoki's eyes widen as someone runs towards him from behind. Gintoki slams himself onto the ground as a sword cuts through the air where his head had been. As the elder regains his balance he brings his sword down onto Gintoki's face. Gintoki lashes out with his leg, knocking the elder off his feet, dropping his sword in the process. The sword hits the marble floor, just grazing Gintoki's cheek. Gintoki leaps up, a little trail of blood slides from the cut down to his chin.

The elder still standing smirks. "Well your reflexes are good." He steps forward, grinning. The bloodlust clear in his eyes.

"Wait…" A chilling voice says behind Gintoki. Gintoki's eyes widen as he turns slowly to look at his ex-comrade. Takasugi smirks. "Your leader said I will be the one to kill him."

"He said it doesn't matter…" The elder mumbles, clearly disappointed. He turns to look at the Shogun who was still fending off amanto. He tilts his head. "Well I guess I can kill the Shogun." He grips the hilt of his sword, walking over to the Shogun.

"Hey!" Gintoki yells, turning to run after him. Gintoki's eyes widen as he feels the cold metallic tip of a sword on the back of his neck.

Takasugi chuckles, his eye wide. "Don't ignore the person who wants to kill you, Gintoki."

Gintoki smirks. "Oh, you were here Takasugi? You're so short I must have missed you."

Takasugi's mouth twitches. "What was that you bastard?!" He screams, swinging his sword.

Gintoki ducks, bringing his sword up to connect with Takasugi's. He smirks at Takasugi's furious face. "Aren't you wounded? Do you think it's a good idea to pick a fight with me right now?"

"Shut up, idiot." Takasugi growls. Their arms shake as they try to overpower each other.

Takasugi grits his teeth as he feels his wound opening. "Dammit…" He mutters.

Gintoki chuckles. "What's wrong, Takasugi?"

Takasugi glares at him, opening his mouth to retort, but a huge crash stops him.

The wall of the house crumbles as it's blown to pieces. Gintoki's eyes widen as he sees the person standing there, but more importantly everyone standing behind him. Shinpachi, Otae, Tsukuyo, Otose, Catherine, Tama, Sacchan, Katsura, Tatsuma, even Sadaharu. Every one of Gintoki's friends stand as far as the eye can see outside. Ryouta stands in the front, arms crossed, smiling down at Gintoki.

Gintoki smiles as an orange-haired Yato walks to the front of the group. She grins down at Gintoki, slamming her foot onto a pile of rubble. She points a finger at Gintoki. "This is what you get for not inviting me to this party Gin- chan!" She screams. Kagura puts her hands on her hips laughing manically.

Authors Note: Hey! All of Gintoki's friends have come to help him! Look forward to next chapter!