Disclaimer: The characters of Gintama belong to Sorachi Hideaki. :)
Authors Note: Have no good excuses for being late on update. *Bangs head against wall* Enjoy chapter 18!
Chap. 18 Why Does Fighting Only Bring Painful Memories?
"This is what you get for not inviting me to the party Gin- chan!" Kagura screams. She puts her hands on her hips, laughing manically. Gintoki sighs, looking the other way. Kagura's eye twitches. "Don't ignore me, you asshole!" She screams.
"Gin- san!" Shinpachi screams. "Why are you-?" He stops when Gintoki gives him 'the look'. Shinpachi grits his teeth. "What's with that look of pity?!"
Gintoki smirks. "Do what you want!" He yells as Takasugi jumps back, just to run back to Gintoki. He thrusts his sword forward, making Gintoki bend backwards to avoid the blade. "It's not my fault if you get killed!" Gintoki screams. Swinging his sword, Gintoki catches Takasugi's chest, making a small cut, a small line of blood runs out. Takasugi looks down, he smiles, chuckling. Grinning he runs forward swinging his sword crazily, Gintoki dodging every swing.
"You bastard!" Kagura screams, running towards them.
"Wait, Kagura!" Shinpachi screams.
Kagura suddenly jumps in the air as two gunshots resound, the bullets hitting the ground where Kagura's feet were.
"Stay away from Shinsuke- sama, you bitch!" Matako screams, running forward her guns raised.
Kagura groans. "Shit… I forgot my umbrella…" Her eyes widen as Matako shoots a series of bullets. Kagura grits her teeth jumping out of the way, but one bullet grazes her leg making Kagura wince, blood oozes out of the cut.
"Kagura!" A voice screams.
Kagura turns to see an object flying towards, catching it in one hand she looks in surprise to see that it's a purple umbrella. She grins, looking over at the stairs. "Bro-!" She stops when she sees that Kamui's back is turned fighting one of the captains again. She smiles down at the umbrella.
"Pay attention!" Matako screams, shooting more bullets.
Kagura smiles, opening the umbrella, deflecting the bullets easily. Closing it, she cocks it at Matako. Matako's eyes widen as Kagura clicks the button, a sheet of bullets erupting from the tip.
Matako barely dodges, hitting the ground as she jumps out of the way. Kagura grins raising the umbrella again. Before Matako can raise her guns in a desperate attempt, a figure appears beside Kagura, the tip of his sword pressed into the side of Kagura's neck, stopping her movement.
"Stop… I hate it when I see two young nurturing girls fighting." The figure says with a creepy smile.
"Senpai!" Matako growls. "Stop being a lolicon!"
"I'm not a lolicon, I'm a feminist!" Takechi retorts. Takechi's eyes widen as he feels a cold metallic blade against his neck.
"Get away from Kagura- chan." Shinpachi spits, pressing the blade deeper into Takechi's neck. Shinpachi's eyes widen as Kagura punches Takechi in the face. Shinpachi steps backwards slightly so the blade only makes a tiny cut on the back of Takechi's neck. Takechi falls to the ground, groaning.
"What was that-?" Takechi starts. He stops when he sees Kagura's face.
Kagura's eye twitches in anger. She cracks her knuckles. "Glasses- san, stay out of this. I'll kill this damn lolicon!" She screams, bringing her fist back. Takechi screams, rolling out of the way as Kagura's fist smashes into the marble floor where Takechi had been.
"Wait Kagura- chan, we shouldn't-!" Shinpachi stops immediately, when he sees Kagura.
Kagura grits her teeth. "Glasses- san, this isn't good… It's stuck…" Kagura groans, trying to pull her fist out of the smashed marble.
"What the hell?!" Shinpachi screams.
Matako laughs, standing up. "Serves you right," she says with a smirk. Shinpachi pulls frantically at Kagura's arm, while Matako raises one gun. A shot rings out through the building, but it doesn't hit its target.
The bullet clings against a sword, stopping it down its path.
"Senpai?!" Matako screams.
Bansai smirks, lowering his sword back to his side. He looks over at Matako. "We shouldn't kill them yet…" He sets a hand against his headphones. "Their songs… are very interesting right now…"
"I second this." Takechi says, raising his hand slightly.
"Damn lolicon…" Matako mutters. She glares at Bansai. "Shinsuke- sama would want us to kill Sakata Gintoki's friends."
Bansai glances over at Gintoki and Takasugi. Takasugi was grinning madly, his right eye alight with bloodlust. Bansai smirks. "I don't think he cares about Sakata Gintoki's friends right now…"
"Fine!" Matako growls, walking away.
Bansai sighs. "C' mon Takechi…"
Takechi shifts from one foot to the other, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "Y' know, maybe I should stay here…"
Bansai gives him a questioning glance. When Takechi says nothing else, Bansai sighs. "Just because you've never been in a real fight, doesn't give you the right to be scared."
"I'm more of a strategist then a fighter…" Takechi mumbles.
Bansai sighs again. "Do what you want…" He turns, walking away.
"Hold on!" Kagura screams, tugging on her arm more violently.
"Wait Kagura- chan! You might dislocate it or something!" Shinpachi yells.
"What are you still doing here Glasses- san?!" Kagura screams. She smirks. "Go help everyone else."
Shinpachi shakes his head, turning so his back is against hers. "I need to watch your back. So try to pull your arm out gently."
Kagura smiles. "Alright Glasses- san…"
"It's not Glasses, its Shinpachi." Shinpachi growls.
"Don't steal Zura's line! He practically owns it!" Kagura yells.
"That's not Katsura- san's line! I don't hear you calling him Glasses!" Shinpachi retorts.
Kagura sighs. "Whatever, just watch my back…" She smiles. "Shinpachi…" Shinpachi grins, nodding.
The sixth squad captain screams as Kamui breaks his arm under his foot. Kamui grins with bloodlust, kicking his foot out, hitting the captain under his chin, the bones in his neck snapping audibly. Kamui laughs.
Abuto brings his head forward, smashing it into the eighth squad captain's face. As he falls back with a groan the lieutenant grabs Abuto from behind, throwing him on the ground. As the lieutenant keeps his arms around Abuto's neck the captain stands again, picking up Abuto's umbrella. He grins positioning it over Abuto's chest.
"Abuto!" Kamui screams. He tries to run forward but the sixth squad lieutenant throws him back by the collar of his shirt.
Abuto grits his teeth, struggling to get out of the headlock. His eyes widen as the umbrella descends. Before it can hit its target the eighth squad captain cries out as he's kicked from behind. He slams into his lieutenant, who lets go of Abuto, both falling back. Abuto coughs, scrambling to get to his feet. He glances over at his savior in surprise. "You're…"
"Hey." Ryouta says with a lopsided smile. He looks around at the other captains and lieutenants. "Say… Why do all of them stand around? It's like they're all waiting for their turn. Why don't they all just charge you and kill you in one go?"
"Well that's not good on our part, with the dying and all." Abuto says with a scowl.
Ryouta's eyes narrow. "I know that, but it's not like the Harusame."
Abuto sighs. "How can you know what the Harusame are like? All you elders did was sit on your asses!"
Ryouta laughs. "I guess you're right! Oh well, twenty- six to two isn't really a fair match, is it?" He glances over at Abuto smirking. "Twenty- six to three now…" Abuto smiles.
"Hey!" Kamui yells. "Would you idiots stop standing around!" Kamui smirks, kicking the sixth squad lieutenant in the face. Kamui turns back to look at them with a smile. "Stop talking and kill something."
Abuto and Ryouta grin. As soon as they turn, the rest of the captains and lieutenants run forward.
"SOUGO!" Kondo screams.
Sougo jumps back, as soon as the elder's sword is free. He grits his teeth holding the wound, blood squeezing between his fingers. "Dammit…" He mutters.
The elder smirks. "The three of you won't be able to kill me. No matter how strong your resolves are."
"Don't be so sure." Kondo growls.
The elder chuckles. "Then try me."
Before Kondo can run forward, Hijikata is already running. He raises his sword, a fierce glint in his eye. The elder easily deflects the swing, throwing Hijikata back. Hijikata immediately brings his foot back, to steady himself, but just to run forward again with more force. He swings frantically the sound of clashing metal reverberating through the air. The elder laughs, throwing Hijikata back with all his strength. Hijikata cries out as he hits the ground hard.
The elder smiles. "Like I told you, you can't kill me."
"Shut up already!" Sougo screams, running forward. He jumps in the air to swing his sword at the back of the elder's head. The elder grins, kicking out with his leg, connecting with Sougo's stomach. Blood erupts out of Sougo's mouth as his ribs snap. He hits the ground, his sword clattering a few feet away. He grits his teeth, blood running out of the corner of his mouth.
The elder smiles. "Idiots… I'm an amanto of strong standing, I've lived through and seen things that you humans can't possibly believe. I'm stronger than every single amanto in the universe. No one can-." He stops as he's interrupted by a fed up voice.
"Really? The strongest amanto out there? Arrogant much?" The voice says.
The elder looks over with a scowl at the approaching group. "I can say the same thing to you."
The amanto in the front of the group laughs. "Same? Our name is well deserved."
"Sure it is…" The elder mumbles. "What are you doing here? Have you come to kill me? You don't give a damn about the Shinsengumi."
The amanto looks at Sougo who was laying bleeding. Kondo and Hijikata tending to him. The amanto smirks. "You're right. We don't care about the Shinsengumi."
"Then leave me to kill them." The elder growls.
The amanto smiles. "As you see we can't let you do that… It will make Sakata Gintoki unhappy and in turn make that monster unhappy."
The elder chuckles. "Fine… If you won't leave me alone, I guess I have to kill you all."
The amanto tilts his head. "Really? Are you that stupid? To take on a whole squad yourself?"
The elder laughs, extending his arms. "Give me all you've got."
All of the Yato of the seventh squad of the Harusame Space Pirates grin.
Takasugi grins, swinging his sword. Gintoki deflects it, only to have Takasugi come at him again. Their swords clang together, their arms shaking as they try to overpower each other.
Takasugi leans forward smirking. "C' mon Gintoki… quit holding back. Are you scared of killing your old comrade…" Takasugi chuckles. "Or… are you scared of the real you coming out? You don't want your friends to see you like that?" He laughs, his voice sadistic. "Shiroyasha?" He whispers.
"Don't call me that!" Gintoki screams, throwing Takasugi back. Takasugi lands on his feet lightly. He smirks at Gintoki's furious face.
Takasugi tilts his head. "Why would you care? You can't even remember Shouyou- sensei can you?" He scowls. "Even after fighting to get him back, it was all futile. And what did you do Gintoki…? You just walked away and gave up."
"Gave up…?" Gintoki whispers, his eyes dark. "How could I have given up, when the war was already long over?!" Gintoki glares at him. "We failed Takasugi! I don't know why you can't live with that! Shouyou- sensei… he wouldn't want you to try and destroy what he always thought was beautiful."
Takasugi chuckles. "Beautiful? It's not beautiful anymore Gintoki! Instead of being a carefree idiot like you, I plan on doing something about this damn world! These amanto… these scum… How the hell can you live with them?! They took Shouyou- sensei away and all you do is try and coexist with them!"
Gintoki smirks. "Coexist, huh? You think I like this Takasugi…? I decided to live with it… Shouyou- sensei would have wanted it…" He grits his teeth. "Why the hell would you think I'd actually forget Shouyou- sensei? Everything I see brings him to mind. Any acts of kindness. Families. Anybody that's happy." He looks back up at Takasugi, the dead fish eyes back. "We lost Shouyou… but I was right to leave the war." He smiles. Everyone fighting seeming to smile back. Kagura and Shinpachi smile, finally ripping Kagura's arm out of the marble. Tsukuyo and the hyaku look up smiling after they had killed the amanto they were fighting. Otae and the other cabaret girls, Otose, Tama, Catherine, Kamui, Abuto, Ryouta, Katsura, and Tatsuma… everyone. Gintoki smile widens. "Yeah, pretty sure it was the right thing to do… I met so many idiots along the way… it was all worth it."
Takasugi's eye widens, but he quickly scowls. "You're such an idiot!" He growls, running forward.
Gintoki sighs, meeting Takasugi's sword. Takasugi swings more fiercely then before. Not even slowing. Gintoki grits his teeth, jumping back, only to have Takasugi run up to him again.
"If you don't start fighting for real Gintoki… I'll kill all of your friends!" Takasugi growls. He grins, lashing out with his fist, catching Gintoki off guard. Takasugi's fist hits Gintoki in the nose, bones breaking. Gintoki falls on his back with a groan. Takasugi raises his sword over Gintoki, his eye alight with insanity.
Gintoki smirks, swinging his leg, catching Takasugi's feet. Takasugi lands on his back, the fall knocking the wind out of him.
Gintoki stands up walking over, a strange look in his eyes. He raises his sword over Takasugi's chest. Takasugi closes his eye tightly. Gintoki grits his teeth, jamming the sword down.
Takasugi opens his eye slowly when he feels no pain. His eye widens as he sees the blade of the sword right next to his face, buried into the marble.
Gintoki chuckles, his eyes dark. "Damn… guess I missed…"
Takasugi's eye narrows. "You can't kill me Gintoki…?"
Gintoki smirks. "I told you… I missed."
"Well, that's a hell of a miss!" Takasugi growls.
A huge crash stops everyone's movements at once. They all turn their heads at the elder who was sprawled on the ground. He sits up, spitting blood onto the ground.
"What the hell…" Kamui says.
"Yo! Captain!" The Yato yell, walking into the room. Some were laughing at the elder and some were waving at Kamui. "This elder is weak!" One of the Yato yells up at Kamui.
Kamui sighs, shaking his head. "Idiots…"
The Yato all glare at him. "You're the idiot!" One yells. "Yeah! We were running around worrying our asses off!" Another screams.
Kamui sighs again. "They're just like you Abuto…" Abuto turns to glare at him. Kamui glances over at Gintoki, but has to do a double- take to see Gintoki staring at the elder, his eyes wide. Kamui raises an eyebrow. "Gintoki…?"
Gintoki shakes his head slowly. "Takasugi… Why are you…?" Takasugi smirks, touching the cloth that covered his eye. Gintoki let's go of the hilt of the sword, leaving it buried in the marble. He takes a step back, his eyes narrow in confusion at the elder. "Takasugi… why are you… Why are you working with the elder that took your eye…?"
Authors Note: I feel like playing major dramatic music at the end. Um, I kind of just realized that Takasugi seems very OOC… Oh well! Did you guys see the latest manga chapter? Kondo finally got a really cool moment! Also Shinpachi's!(; Hope you liked it! Look forward to next chapter!