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

Authors Note: ….Let's all say Ganbatte to each other during this New Year.

Chap. 28 You Can't Expect Someone to Mature if You Yourself Aren't Matured

"Kondo… how can you say that…?" Sougo whispers. He glares at Kondo. "He was just defending himself!"

"Defending…" Kondo smiles slightly. "Those are cases of just defending someone…" Kondo squints as if in pain. "This matter isn't really on those two cases…"

Hijikata sighs. "Kondo…"

Kondo glares at him. "I'm tired of you two thinking this isn't right. It doesn't matter the good things he does now. Think of what he's done in the past. Sakata Gintoki told us himself that he is the Shiroyasha."

Hijikata takes a drag from his cigarette. "Kondo... Why did you bring up the idea of arresting him now? We've known he was the Shiroyasha for quite a while. Even that he is associated with Takasugi Shinsuke."

Kondo averts his eyes. "That…"

Sougo takes an angry step forward. "Are you saying that you had the idea of arresting him this whole time?!"

"Sougo!" Kondo screams.

Sougo grits his teeth, grabbing his sword, gripping the sword tightly, his hand quivering. Suddenly, he turns, walking out of the room.

Everyone doesn't know what to do as they look between Kondo and the shoji.

"He's such a…" Kondo shakes his head, trailing off.

"Kondo… Were you going to say child?" Hijikata sighs. "Kondo… he is a child."

"Toshi! Think of how long he has been here! All of the things he's seen! He should've matured by now!" Kondo screams, frustrated.

"Sir?" Yamazaki cuts in, raising a nervous hand. "This isn't because of maturity. It's a case of him losing someone he genuinely respects."

Kondo blinks. "Respects…?"

"Are you saying you seriously didn't notice Kondo?" Hijikata asks.

Kondo scratches the back of his head. "Um, I guess… But I didn't take it as far as respect…"

"So, are you going to drop the charges of Sakata Gintoki's arrest?" Someone asks.

"Of course not." Kondo says, speaking confidently.

Hijikata opens his mouth in surprise, his cigarette falling out. "Wait… Kondo… Why?"

Kondo sighs, walking over to the shoji. "You seriously think I was going to drop the charges because of that? Don't think ill of this matter…" Kondo slowly turns his head away from the group. "I don't give a damn about who he respects."

"Wait! Kondo!" Hijikata screams.

Without turning Kondo sighs. "Toshi… Everyone. You see Sakata Gintoki and he resists, don't hesitate to end his life." With that he's gone.

Hijikata closes his eyes for a second, sighing heavily.

"Hijikata- san… I don't think I could kill boss…" Yamazaki whispers. The rest of the group nod in agreement.

Hijikata looks out over the group, almost every face downcast. Suddenly Hijikata slams the cigarette into the wall, extinguishing it. He grits his teeth. "Tch, damn gorilla…"

"What?!" Katsura screams. The whole diner turns to look at them. Katsura blinks, lowering his voice. "Are you sure Tatsuma?"

"You want proof?" Tatsuma asks. Not waiting for an answer he pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket, handing it to Katsura.

Katsura unfolds the paper, seeing a familiar face on the page. "So, it's true… Gintoki has a bounty…"

Tatsuma raises an eyebrow. "You actually seem surprised."

"I'm not… it's the price… How is it so much? What did he do?" Katsura asks.

Tatsuma laughs. "Well, Zura… He made an enemy of the Harusame and he's the legendary Shiroyasha."

"Hm and I thought you were an idiot…" Katsura mutters.

Tatsuma's eye twitches in irritation. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that…" He sighs, scratching the back of his head. "Then, it gets confusing… Wouldn't they be after you, since you were with Gintoki during the Benizakura incident?"

Katsura raises an eyebrow. "This can't be because of the Benizakura… it has to be something else."

Tatsuma sets his elbow on the table, resting his chin in his hand. "Katsura… this can't be about the Shiroyasha… How do they know Gintoki's the Shiroyasha?"

Katsura leans back in the booth, shaking his head. "This bounty has to be from someone with more power…"

"What do you mean?" Tatsuma asks.

Katsura looks down at the table, hesitating. "Well, think about what's been happening… Don't you think it has to be something bigger…?" He looks up, meeting Tatsuma's eyes. "Like the Tendoshuu."

"The Tendoshuu?" Tatsuma says in surprise. "But, they want him to work with them."

"Yes, I know… but Tatsuma, think. There weren't many elders that showed up at the Shogun's place. What if there's more."

Tatsuma's eyes widen. "More? You mean in the world?"

Katsura nods. "The world and the universe. They could be anyone. With all the amanto on the streets we could have passed one without noticing."

Tatsuma leans back in the booth. "Damn Zura, you made me feel uncomfortable for a minute there."

"Don't take this lightly, Tatsuma." Katsura says, glaring. "They could even know our names, since we are associated with Gintoki. But, the biggest theory I have is that there were spies. The Shinsengumi have a lot of information and…" Katsura's cut off when Tatsuma speaks up.

"Wait! The Shinsengumi know that Gintoki is the Shiroyasha? How?"

Katsura raises an eyebrow in confusion. "Gintoki told them himself."

Tatsuma grits his teeth. "Is he an idiot?!"

Katsura smiles. "I don't think I've ever seen you mad before…" Before Tatsuma can say anything else, Elizabeth tugs on Katsura's yukata. Katsura nods. "We're going to go."

"I see you enjoy my gift…" Tatsuma says, smiling slightly.

Katsura stands, smirking. "Yes… I don't think I ever thanked you…"

"You don't need to… Your friendship is enough." Tatsuma says, closing his eyes.

Katsura chuckles. "You know, I don't ever remember you saying such cool things."

Tatsuma laughs. "I've always said cool things Zura."

Katsura smiles. "It's not Zura, its Katsura."

"Those bastards!" Akatsuki screams, his eyes glowing a brighter crimson.

"Calm down Akatsuki." Akira says quietly.

Gintoki raises an eyebrow, grabbing Souchi's paper. His eyes widen as he sees his picture. "What the hell…"

Akatsuki turns abruptly, glaring at Gintoki. "What the hell did you do?!"

"Well, considering he did many things over the years that would concern the others… It could be anything." Eiji says.

Gintoki raises an eyebrow. "Others?"

"Yeah! The other part of the Tendoshuu! They broke off from us after hearing…" Souchi starts saying excitedly, until Akira slaps him on the back of the head.

"Stop acting like an excited child." Akira scolds.

Gintoki's eyes widen as he notices Souchi is a child… Much younger than himself, but maybe a little older than Kagura. Gintoki's eyes narrow at the thought of the Tendoshuu recruiting children.

"What are you planning to do Akatsuki?" Akira asks.

"No! Akira! Don't goad him!" Souchi screams.

Akira raises an eyebrow. "Goad him into what?"

Akatsuki turns his back on the group, suddenly chuckling. "You want to know what I'm planning. I think I'll give what everybody wants…"

"Akatsuki…?" Ryouchi says cautiously.

"That's right…" Akatsuki turns, grinning madly, the crimson dancing in his eyes. "I think we should give them a war."

"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them"-Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Authors Note: Hola! Yes, Souchi is a child. I'd say maybe 15 or 16. What? You're telling me that's not a child? Fine, voices in my head. He's a damn teenager. Damn, why are you always on my ass. Okay, well Souchi is a child for the reason… that will be explained later. That's it… Why are you still reading this? Now that I put that sentence there, the people not reading this are going to scroll down to that sentence and think I'm such a dumbass. Well, guess what… SpongeBob hates you people. HA! You're hated by the best American animated character! Yes, my friends… America has made something of brilliance. Until next chapter! *Jumps onto my cliff in superhero pose*