Good night! I'm back. Enjoy this chapter. And as always, an apology for the mistakes that you could find. Thank you: BloodyCamellia, Gisolei, KotoriZ and Classic-phan for add my story to favorites. Thanks also to: CupcakesAndAlice and Akashi for give it follow to my fanfiction. 😃 See you next time!
Special thanks to Parazor, who was responsible for the translation. She deserves that I made her essays in philosophy XD
*Mononoke is a Japanese animated television series. A spin-off of 2006's horror anthology series Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales. Mononoke follows the character of the medicine seller as he continues to face a myriad of supernatural perils.
Chapter 2
Resolution
She had asked him to follow her without any objections while he carried his unconscious captain, who was, by the time being, nothing but a docile puppy. And while he was curious to ask her where they were headed, the best thing was to shut up and not say anything until she herself spoke to him.
After going through the bamboo forest, he finally saw their destination. But who would build a mansion like that, practically in the middle of nowhere? And even if one could think it was completely abandoned, it was quite the opposite. From the perfectly cared-for exterior, to that garden of medicinal plants, everything looked flawless.
They went through the front door, walked a long hallway and reached the room that had to undoubtedly serve as her working area. There were lots of specimens on every shelf he looked at; they were ordered by collection date, origin and species; everything in that place was meticulously organized.
"Why the look of surprise?", she questioned the man who was looking at her like she was a freak.
"I'm just surprised how frighteningly tidy is everything here."
"This is the place where I make my preparations, everything has to be this way or it would be a total mess." She looked at her desk; the mortar and the plants she had been grinding were still there. "After we take care of that idiot, you bring the rest of the crew here."
"Are you sure they can stay here?"
"My house is better than those filthy places you chose for your people", she pointed out. "Besides, if they're here it's less probable they'll be found."
"Always so strict." He sighed heavily. "You are going somewhere?"
"I'll tell you where to lock that dumb captain of yours before I leave." She shoots him a small but wicked smile.
After their brief talk, she took him to the basement of the house, which was perfectly clean, to the surprise of the Yato; there was even a bed and some simple furniture, that gave the room a more domestic air.
"Lay him on the bed. We'll leave him there for the time being." While she talked she was checking an old chest near the stairs that took them down there.
"You've chosen a pretty isolated place to live." He had already managed to lay the unconscious man on the bed. "What are you…?"
"If he's going out of control again at least let's make it hard for him." Her words turned to reality the moment he saw how she immobilized the young man with some shackles. "These are strong enough to resist Kamui's strength… or at least that's what I think."
"What do you mean you think!? Anyway… where did you get something like that from? Are you that kind of a woman? Are you into that kind of fetishes?"
"I can put one of these on you if it got you that excited." That could sound like a joke, but she was being serious.
"The stupid one with a death wish is him, not me."
"That's what I thought." And that's how she put that second pair of shackles away. "The blotches didn't keep spreading. Isn't it weird?"
"In theory, they should be getting worse. However…"
"Well, we should have to examine the rest and see if the same thing happens", she said, more to herself than anything. "But changing the subject, did you recognize which kind of Amanto ambushed you? I doubt they're the master mind behind this mess but at least we'd have something."
"They were undoubtedly from the Tokague clan. They're clever creatures and pretty agile in the battlefield, but I doubt they're smart enough to have made a weapon like that."
"Certainly", she agreed. "Which means we actually have nothing."
"We took care of destroying the whole ship when we got here. We even got rid of all its crew…", he told her remembering the facts in his head. "But it was in that moment when the whole place started to fill with that smoke and those beasts were freed."
"Even dead they beat you guys up."
"One could say we weren't so lucky." He gave her a half-smile with that relaxed air so typical of him at times.
"Are you sure you have no symptoms and you're not just trying to look cool in front of me?"
"I was out of that ship with a few others, finishing cleaning up the battlefield.", he said. "So, I was lucky and didn't swallow that damn smoke."
"For the time being, don't get out of this place and for god's sake don't cause a ruckus here that can give away your location, understand?" When had the tables turned and she had become the one to give out orders and lectures?
"When you speak like that you remember me of my mother", he joked.
"Your mother must have been a great woman, then." She was obviously going to return the insult.
"Have you gotten so tired of these old guys that you want to leave?" He couldn't blame her. If he could he'd also take off, leaving Kamui there sleeping.
"Some plants that I need, I don't have them here, so I'll have to go out", she explained as soon as she finished climbing the stairs. "Besides, as vice-captain, it's your duty and pride to care about the well-being of your dear captain."
"And there she goes again… Always complaining about that idiot when she does the same…" There was nothing left but giving up, so that's how he, like a good subordinate, took a seat and began his long vigil.
How many times had she told him to clean up his room before going out to play with his friends? Was it that this new generations were destined to be some rebels without a cause or was it just that he got distracted with something else? After all, no matter where she looked, she couldn't find the sneaky kid.
"Is something wrong, Hinowa?", asked the blonde, with a curious look. She had just gotten back to the store and saw the worried look on the woman's face.
"I can't find Seita anywhere", she said worried. "He's not in his room, or outside, playing with his friends. He's not that kind of kid."
"I don't think you should worry so much about him", the blonde replied. "He can take care of himself."
"Even if you say so, I can't help but feel worried." She was going to continue expressing her uneasiness, but apparently, she was just exaggerating. At least that's how she felt as soon as she saw her dear son coming in.
"Where were you? You had your mother very worried", said Tsukuyo after blowing out some smoke from her pipe.
"Ah, I'm sorry mom", the kid apologized right away. "I was just… a little busy. There's nothing to worry about."
"Don't do that again, are you understand?", the black-haired woman made him promise.
"I promise", he answered solemnly. "I'll go finish my homework now." Those were his last words before he ran inside. However, there was a little detail that didn't go unnoticed by the two women.
"Weren't those…?"
"Flowers?", finished the purple-eyed woman with disbelief. "You think… he is…?"
"He's too young for that stuff, Tsukuyo."
"You know, now that I think about it… Lately I always see him coming home with a girl", murmured the woman.
"Excuse me, good afternoon." Their motherly talk would have to wait. Seemingly, they had a new client.
"Oh, it's you, Oshin-kun", greeted the woman warmly.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I came to pick up my chest of drawers." Her crimson gaze settled on the farthest corner of the place. "I see it has… been used for all kind of toys." There were so many censored areas that she wasn't so sure anymore if it was a good or a bad idea to take that damned box back.
"Go ahead, you can take it."
"T-thanks…" No matter how careful she was when she touched those flashy and colorful toys, they made some grotesque sounds. They even shined.
"Those are this season's new models. You can take one for free, if you want." How could she look so innocent and pure when she sold sex toys of such ridiculous sizes?
"Ah, I, I think I… pass." The quicker she finished grabbing her stuff, the farthest away she would be from this perverted place. "By the way, Hinowa, are they opening a new store next door?"
"So", she said. "Who you would open a flower shop?"
"The kind of person who'd think of opening an apothecary", mentioned Tsukki to the young woman who was already carrying such a large bag.
"Who do you think sells STD medication to those damned lecherous men whose only working head is the one they have down there, huh? Who do you think they go to when their little soldiers retreat from war before even beginning it and that just think of going back to their comfortable home?" Her services were clearly of much use to the district of Yoshiwara.
"You certainly have a point there", praised Hinowa for her mental acuity for business.
"Since I got here I've made some juicy profits." It's not like she liked working in the red-light district, but that's all there was. "These kinds of places remind me of him… ", she said to herself. "By the way, I have a question."
"About what?", Tsukuyo said.
"Where can I find the Yorozuya?"
After her arrival to Edo she never had the chance of getting to know it well. Her only knowledge about that city of extinct samurai was of the red-light district where men found carnal pleasure, and the area where her house was located. But thanks to the simple indications Tsukuyo gave her, she managed to get to the most feared district of the country: Kabuki district.
From her point of view, it wasn't more than a vile neighborhood neglected by the government, therefore it was infested by vagabonds, scary-looking people, and establishments that sold products of dubious origin, not to mention that one had to be careful or their belongings would be gone in the blink of an eye.
However, she didn't feel uncomfortable walking through a place like that, either. In a certain way, it had its own charm; it was so showy and noisy that it felt welcoming to foreigners like her.
"This must definitely be it." She stopped in front of that snack house. It looked like they were having a blast in there. "Good evening, can I, by any chance find the Yorozuya he-…?" She fell silent as soon as she pulled the sliding door open. They had to be kidding. "Uhm, I think I'm mistaken." She slammed the door shut, trying to forget what she just saw. "W-wait… was that a baby!? A baby, really…it-it's huge! Where does it come from, the land of the giants!? And what was supposed to be doing that glasses freak!? Was that a pillow? It was! And if it was why was he kissing it so passionately!? And why was there a man dressed in a kimono and cat ears!? In which kind of crazy dimension did I get myself into!?" She tried to compose herself but that had been too much for what she was used to. It wasn't hard to believe that she was now leaning against the nearest wall, hyperventilating.
"Uh… were you looking for us?" She turned around slowly with that drama so typical of a soap opera where the protagonist reencounters the love of her life.
"Ah, yes, but I think I got the wrong address", she mentioned, blinking a few times. In front of her stood a grown man dressed only in a diaper, carrying a ridiculous bow and a pair of wings glued to his back.
"We're the Yorozuya" spoke the one on his right. Who in appearance would be the most normal, if she hadn't seen him not a minute ago showing too much affection towards an inanimate object. "His name's Gin-san. I'm Shinpachi and she is Kagura."
"Hello", said the Yato with her finger digging inside her right nostril. "You needed something?"
"It's hard to believe they're the same from that last time… It's like something's not right here." After seeing them fighting ferociously against the Harusame in the Rakuyou planet it was hard to see them in their 'natural state'. "I'm sorry. My name is Oshin", she introduced herself. "And I've come here to ask you for a job."
"Impossible, impossible", claimed Gintoki with a lazy expression on his face. "We've been very busy lately. We've taken a vacation, you see."
"The only thing I see is you taking that from your nose and wiping it on that four-eyed freak's head."
"Eh!? Gin-san, what the hell are you doing!? And who are you calling a four-eyed freak!? We've just met and you're already insulting me!? Why are you pretending you didn't just say something offensive to me!?"
"The pay will be good enough." She put her chest of drawers on the floor, opening the lower drawer and letting them see what she so meticulously kept there. "It's an ancient dagger but it's valuable. It's made entirely of gold and I'm sure you can sell it for a good price."
"Hey, wait a moment… Don't tell me you're…" The silver haired took a few steps back with an expression so serious it could make more than one person quiet. And that simple reaction left his viewers confused.
"Is it possible he remembers who I am? I know we crossed paths during that battle with the Harusame in the planet of the Yato… But I didn't think he was the kind of man who pays attention to details."
"It's all clear now", he nodded, again and again, looking at her closely. "For a few days now I've noticed that my savings have been diminishing drastically with no apparent reason."
"I'm sorry to say this, Gin-san, but you've lost it all in the Pachinko. You're just trying to escape from reality."
"And yesterday while I was reading the Jump all the lamps started flickering until it all went dark." It was amazing how hilarious he sounded while telling his story and trying not to lose his mind.
"That was because we didn't pay the bills this month", said Kagura.
"Maybe with what I've told you, you can find its Figure, its Truth and its Reason, and be able to eradicate it from our house." He grabbed her both arms. How could he look so serious while spouting nonsense like that?
"Uhm… I think you're confused… I'm not that 'kind of apothecary'. I really just sell medicine."
"You don't need to be so shy, Oshin-chan. I'll keep your secret from all those ignorant who don't realize that our beautiful Yorozuya is being attacked by a dangerous and powerful Mononoke*. And that if they get distracted it could devour all of us and send us to a twisted world from where we could never escape."
"No, like I'm trying to say… I'm not a Mononoke exterminator, I just want you to accept my job request."
"What do you mean our house is possessed by a Mononoke!? Wait, in the first place, what the hell's supposed to be a Mononoke!?"
"Shinpachi-kun, what kind of samurai are you if you don't know something as simple as that? What am I supposed to have taught you all these years, huh? Don't embarrass me in front of our client."
"Actually, the only one who's embarrassing us is you. You should just shut up and let her speak. In fact, you should stop reading those weird magazines because they're already affecting you."
"Mmm… This is delicious.", said the Yato. Was is too late to save those pastries that Oshin had kept in the upper drawer of her box?
"I'm truly sorry. They're total idiots", the glasses-wearing boy apologized after having calmed that pair down with a well-deserved blow from his bokken. "We'll gladly hear your request."
She perhaps regretted having gone looking for the Yorozuya but she had already entered their humble establishment. Therefore, she couldn't go back; all that was left was for her to just tell them the problem at hand.
"Well? What is it you want us to take care of?" Gintoki Sakata was finally fully dressed and looked like his sanity had come back to him at least for the moment.
"I want you to get an object back for me", she told them at the same time she pulled a picture from her pocket. "It's a family sword that's been passed down for generations. It's been known by many as 'Burakkusouru'."
"One doesn't see much of this kind of swords now." To the eyes of people with little knowledge of swords, it was nothing more than a piece of forged metal whose sharp blade was of an intriguing black color. "Where did you see it for the last time?"
"In the hands of its stupid owner", she said with annoyance. "He usually takes it with him and never lets it out of his sight but he had one too many that night, going from bar to bar… Next day, he realized he no longer had it with him." Why was she surrounded by such stupid people? "He's personally asked me to look for it around Edo, but I don't have the time nor I'm in the mood to do it. So that's why I've come to you."
"That kind of samurai shouldn't even be breathing… A self-respecting samurai would never lose his sword. It's like he lost his soul, like someone ripped one of his arms off. The sword is so vital for a samurai like the butter on a toast every morning at breakfast", he proclaimed at the top of his lungs. "Scum like that should just commit seppuku!"
"Says the samurai who has lost his sword more than ten times after a night out drinking or when you leave to the cabaret? You should take your own advice and end your life right now, Gin-san."
"Take your time to look for it and bring it back to me." The negotiations had been done, thus the best was to stand and leave as soon as possible. "When you finish my request, take the sword with you to Yoshiwara and I'll personally give you the rest of the reward there."
"Shinpachi, did you hear the same thing I heard?", he questioned the other one, exchanging glances. "She's telling us she'll 'give us the rest of the reward' in Yoshiwara. You know what that means?"
"That she works there or that it's easier for her to go there for the exchange?"
"Error, error!" If he didn't understand with words, he would with a beating. "You think a woman like her would be in Yoshiwara selling medicine to those losers who only have their d*** to decorate during Christmas while the rest of the year grow them spider webs there?"
"Actually, that's what I do."
"Of course not!", he exclaimed with fervent motivation. "Look at those thighs, perfectly defined by the daily effort of her noble work! Look at her slender waist and that skin so smooth she'd be the envy of any lustful fifteen-year-old girl! And don't forget that pair of b-…!"
"Why did you hit me as well, Kagura-chan!?", groaned Shinpachi in pain before passing out. It looked like someone had gotten tired of their chit chat and had sent them to be one with the floor, literally.
"Sadaharu and I want to sleep. So, stay quiet or we'll make you sleep outside." Her blue eyes moved from the two idiots to Oshin. "They're just stupid and never think with the right head. Just ignore them or hit them."
"I see you've got them well trained", she congratulated the girl. "Would you come with me for dinner, Kagura-chan?", she invited politely.
"Really?" She didn't think twice about if it involved food. "Can we have ramen or maybe… meat?" By only imagining it, she was already drooling all over the floor.
"Sure, we'll have whatever you like."
It was the first time she went to that restaurant, mostly because she didn't have enough money to pay for the house specialty. So, she was more than eager to try the menu and brag to both her friends about how lucky she had been.
"What am I going to order?" They had both found an available table and while Oshin sat with her arms crossed, the other girl looked at the menu with anticipation; it was like a little girl who couldn't control her excitement.
"You can order whatever you want", the older woman told the blue-eyed girl. "Even the whole menu."
"Seriously!?" The girl was crying tears of joy. She had even thrown herself over the black-haired woman to hug her with her superhuman strength. "Kami-sama really exists and has sent me an angel." She moved away from her to start ordering all dishes from the menu to the scared waitress.
"Can I ask you something, Kagura-chan?"
"Anything, she answered, smiling.
"Are you enjoying your stay here on Earth?", she asked quickly. "I've heard you belong to one of the most dangerous races of the universe and that the sun isn't too healthy for you all."
"Earth is an amazing place", she assured passionately. "I've met wonderful people like Gin-san or Shinpachi-kun. I even have an amazing pet." Yes, because that giant dog had escorted them to the restaurant; he was out there, moving his tail from side to side. "Even if Papi isn't here, I don't feel alone."
"Maybe I should do the same and move to one of these districts. If I have some luck, I might even find a pair of idiot friends like yours."
"Um? You don't live here?"
"Technically no", she replied. "I came here temporarily. And although I was thinking on leaving, it seems I've been found by the people I less wished to see again."
"Does that mean you're a fugitive bride who's been traveling around the universe trying to leave her stupid and good for nothing fiancé behind? Which was picked by your father since you were a little girl and now that you've grown up he wants you to get married."
"…It's scary the imagination the kids have nowadays… This pair of siblings aren't just different. They're much more than that..." She inhaled and calmed down again. Perhaps dealing with Kamui for all this time was affecting her behavior with normal people who didn't have just murder in their heads. "While we have dinner, why don't you tell me more about the Yorozuya and yourself?"
He was sure a few hours had passed since Oshin left, but he hadn't felt them at all. Due to his own exhaustion, he had fallen completely asleep, ignoring everything around him, even his own captain. Nevertheless, he was surprised when he woke up.
"You've finally come to?", he asked out of mere courtesy as soon as he saw the usual dumb expression the blue-eyed man possessed.
"What happened?" The only thing he remembered was the beginning of that battle and how much he enjoyed butchering those wild beasts that could compare to him in strength.
"It was to be expected that you wouldn't remember a thing." The man scratched the back of his neck and sighed. The truth was that he wasn't in the mood to be doing didactic rundown to him.
"If I'm like this, it means this was her idea." There was that smile on his lips again, while he moved his hands; his wrists and ankles were tightly bound by thick shackles that took away his mobility.
"She thought that those shackles would look good on you. They even match the color of your eyes, captain." Yes, in a certain way he was enjoying the bad moment of the Yato.
"Well, Abuto, do you know who were the ones who led us to Earth and ambushed us? They've really made a complete mess here, you see." For some reason, he was impatient to know the name of their current enemies.
"Don't make that face, idiot", he muttered, pissed. "It was your fault we ended up this way."
"They started it by attacking us", he said. "We couldn't let them leave just like that." Why did he look that excited instead of thinking on the consequences of his irrational decisions?
"You should've realized something was wrong when they started leading us to this planet." If only he heard half of his advices, the Yato Clan wouldn't have such a dark future.
"You can't deny that it was fun."
"Fun?", he replied ironically. "After what happened with Harusame and all that our strengths have been cut in half or more. And now they're trying to exterminate us like we're simple lab rats."
"Which only means they're interesting opponents", he smiled broadly with that sadistic look on his face, eager to taste new blood, to try that emotion that only strong opponents could make him feel.