Very good night. I'm sorry I didn't update before. But well, the important thing is that I'm here. First of all, I would like to make a clarification: this fanfic began to be written before it showed what was related to Kouka, so there will be things that do not add. But I'll take care of filling those spaces later. No more, enjoy the chapter.

Parazor: Thank you so much for everything. And don't look at me ugly for not updating the original story XD

Special thanks to the people who have given "follow" to my story. Rasen sends you some of her dark love!

Chapter 8

Blaze

Their screams could be heard throughout the whole place, like loud choirs that lasted for eternity, showing the world that true terror exists and is capable of manifesting in different, almost surreal ways. And that was exactly was happening with whom had bravely decided to enter the palace through the front door, naively thinking that the only thing they had to get out of the way were mere guards, when what was actually waiting for them inside was the closest thing to a nightmare.

How many were there? They didn't have time for that nonsense. How would they manage to exterminate them without getting killed in the process? They didn't have enough time to analyze it and find a strategy, either; not when those furious beasts had crushed their weapons with a terrifying ease.

Now they could only run through the halls and pray to be faster than those who were trying to sink their teeth into them. And maybe if they were a little lucky, they could lose them.

"What the hell are those things that are chasing us like we were cattle?!" Running to survive, that was the three members of the Yorozuya's motto.

"Shinpachi, first class beef is the best. Anyone loves a nice piece of meat. Don't judge them for wanting to fill up their bellies", argued Kagura. She didn't seem to be in tune with the rest of them.

"Nobody cares about your consideration towards those things! And whose side are you on!?" Yelling at the top of their lungs wouldn't save their lives, but it was necessary to help him erase the future trauma that'd mark him for life.

"Kagura, Shinpachi, we all agree that the best meat is the soft one that melts in your mouth while an explosion of condiments and accompaniments highlight its natural properties", versified Gintoki, as if the topic they were discussing was about obtaining world peace.

"Do you two seriously only think about food!? Don't you realize that if we're caught we'll be nothing more than ground meat between their teeth!?"

"Pattsuan, for reasons like these is that you'll never be a distinguished member of the Yorozuya… Always cowering because of little things, always making drama like you were the future Drama Queen of Edo, always being so negative", scolded seriously the silver-haired man.

"…Let me remind you that those things are bigger than Sadaharu and they swallowed your sword and umbrella like they were breadsticks…" Nothing like those nice reminders that managed to provoke enthusiasm and collective panic among those three.

"Don't you think they're some pretty dogs!? Maybe we should save some money and buy a few so they can watch the house or take care of the bill collectors that come everyday pretending we owe them money." Sakata and his ability to speak at full speed when he was scared to death. "Help, somebody help me!"

"Why are you only asking for help for yourself, Gin-chan!?" To hell with putting out her leg to trip up the samurai. It was the law of the strongest… or the law of the smartest. The point was to survive.

"Kagura-chan, why did you do that!?" Even though he was criticizing the redhead's action, he wasn't exactly doing something to help that friend in danger that stayed behind.

"It's what Gin-san would've wanted… I'm sure he would have wanted us to survive and carry on his legacy… Gin-chan was a good man."

"Damn Kagura, you beat me to it!", shouted the man lying on the floor, extending his hand towards the pair that seemed too far away now, yearning for them to come rescue him. "That was very smart of you, Kagura-chan."

"No, I don't think he would've ever wanted that… And it's a shame that only by sacrificing himself he can be able to redeem himself for all the bad he's done", murmured the boy with an afflicted look, ignoring Sakata's screams for help. "They haven't even done anything to you yet! And stop congratulating her for leaving you as a scapegoat!"

"Gin-chan, we'll always remember you!"

"We won't forget to put offerings in your grave and pray to you everyday!"

"Thank you for letting us keep living another day!", they exclaimed in unison as thanks to whom for so long granted them the best years of their lives.

They stopped, not because they were having remorse for abandoning that unfortunate samurai, but because they didn't hear any of his complaints or any growls from those monstrous dogs. Was it already over and those animals were satisfied enough to stop chasing them? Or had Sakata Gintoki came back as the samurai that he was, and had managed to shake off their enemies?

And out of curiosity they turned to what could turn into the scene that marked their young existences.

"Oh, he's still alive…", confirmed Kagura while she picked her nose. "They say cockroaches are very hard to kill."

"Actually, those dogs are nowhere to be found…", murmured Shimura, trying to find the animals.

"What are you three doing here?" The fourth voice that joined the chat startled the members of the Yorozuya, making them regroup and take a fighting stance. "Yeah, well, I suppose this must have scared you pretty bad." If those three were scared a while ago, now they had a frightened look all over their faces.

"A zombie, a zombie!", yelled Kagura loudly, starting to run around Shinpachi and Gintoki.

"We have to find a weapon that we can kill her with, so we can go to the Um*** Corporation and find the antidote to save all humanity from the next zombie apocalypse!"

"O-shi…Oshin-san!?" The glasses-wearing boy pointed from her head to every last piece of her bloodstained clothes. "A-are you okay!? And… where did you come from?" The black-haired woman pointed at the sliding door beside her.

"Wipe that scared look off your face, Shimura." Now that she looked at herself, it seemed she had been reborn as a living dead. "And you two, stop pretending you're dead and are now looking for fresh brains."

"Oshin-chan." The side of a monster hunter in Kagura had ended and she found herself hugging the woman now.

"She's a smart girl. She knows she can buy her delicious expensive meat."

"Stop thinking we're all as low as you are… And I don't want to know the real reason why you're drooling right now." The scene in front of them appeared to be, for mentally sane people, that of a girl hugging an old friend tightly. But for individuals with a twisted conscience, it was a child burying her face in between two nice female attributes. "Gin-san, don't make me go look for those dogs so you can be tonight's snack."

"I missed you too, Oshin-chan~… So why don't we hold each other in an embrace full of friendship and good vibes. Experts say that a hug is capable of reducing stress, anxiety, as well as lowering the blood pressure, and not to mention it helps building trust and safety."

"How can you be so shameless when your nose is giving you away!? What are you really thinking about when you watch a scene as pure as this!? What kind of 'trust' are you looking for!?", criticized Shinpachi with a dozen of veins bursting all over his head. And it was because the 'responsible adult' that was supposed to guide him was there, raising his hand like a small kid asking for permission to go to the bathroom while he wore a perverted smile on his face.

"And how'd you manage to scare those annoying dogs off?" The Yato had finished her greeting and now looked confused at the crimson-eyed girl.

"That was very simple", she mentioned, showing them the pair of sprayers she held in her hands. "They may be dangerous, but they're still dogs with an excellent sense of smell. That's why smells like alcohol, vinegar, naphthalene or cleaning products are very unpleasant for them, making them run away to stop feeling that discomfort."

"We've been saved by something that pathetic…" And the depression club run by Gintoki opened its doors.

"A couple of sprayers have left us in shame… Does nobody respect a Yato's strength anymore? Is no one afraid of the Yorozuya?"

"Hey, you two, stop behaving so pathetically and thank her for saving us", he told the pair that was already on the floor in a fetal position, babbling about some nonsense. "Ignore them, they're always like that."

"What's the reason why you're here?"

"Well, that's because…"

None of them had a weapon to give more flavor to the battle anymore. The only thing they had at their disposal was the bareness of their fists and the stubborn will to not surrender, even when they were feeling like they were reaching their limit.

A fist smashing into the other's face, a front kick shaking the abdomen of whom was already hurt in a previous fight. And another round of counterattacks and dodges that were only unnecessarily prolonging a battle that should have ended long time ago.

Hadn't he already exterminated his adversary, since he had provided him a good amount of fun, or was it that he was worse than an entire colony of cockroaches? Why was he still standing, without suffering and completely whole even after Kamui'd broken all the bones of his arms and left leg? How had he managed to put himself at his level? What was that blond supposed to be if he couldn't be classified as neither an earthling nor a Yato?

"I wasn't expecting a kid like you to give me this much trouble. And look, I even had to use another dose to be able to send you to hell." He took a small bottle out of his pocket and quickly shattered it to pieces; what mattered to him was its content: those blue pills that he swallowed in no time. "After this incredible discovery, Amanto like you don't represent even the slightest danger." Every last wound started to disappear from his body, leaving only his damaged clothes.

"Nobody can have such a high level of regeneration… Not even the Yato can heal so quickly." If even to Abuto seemed wrong the fact that that man could face them and stand up after all the damage Kamui had inflicted him, now he could say he wasn't completely sure that they could keep up if they considered that man had the way to cure himself that quickly... "Captain, are you sure you want to continue an encounter in which he'll keep healing himself as many times as necessary while he keeps wiping the floor with you?"

"Until a moment ago I thought I had come across a formidable enemy that could be a match for me and would provide a formidable show, however…" All the excitement he felt during their battle had dropped dangerously, leaving him with an angry look on his face and an unreasonable urge to finish their encounter in a quick way. "…Turns out he's nothing more than a fraud that had to resort to a cheap game to be able to test his strength with a Yato's."

"That's what bothered you!?", blurted out Abuto, glancing at the bloodstained boy.

Life is full of coincidental events, of those wonderful moments when life decides to turn its back on you and laugh out loud while walking away, waiting to see what happens after its change of plans.

That unpleasant blow of fate had impacted literally and metaphorically on whom had managed to keep up with them for so long.

"Mmm… Abuto, do you think that medicine he took can be used to put all his parts together?"

"Honestly… I don't think such a medicine even exists to do 'something' about this… In fact, right now I doubt there'll be even an arm of him left…"

What had fell from above wasn't a large object, but rather a monstrous being that had chosen him as his landing cushion. The same that, thanks to its enormous weight and the force of its fall had caused the breaking of what once was a whole, full of life human.

Under those heavy paws lied the human purée of organs seasoned with dust and the river of blood that flowed between the crimson of its claws.

It was a beast similar to the one they'd been fighting; however, the white fur had been replaced by a jet black one, and its eyes were like gold itself.

"Is it me or this little friend here is a little bigger than the rest?", pondered Abuto after noticing that the canine could easily reach the two meters high. "And I think it's much more pissed than the others."

"Are you sure your sense of smell is working?" Both men fixed their attention on the person coming out from between the bulky fur of the animal. "Where are we supposed to be?"

"Hey, what the hell are you doing up there!? Why are you riding that beast of mass destruction?", spoke Abuto from the floor, staring at who appeared to be perfectly calm up on the head of that dog.

"Abuto, you're still alive." How could she say that? That woman sure had some nerve. "I knew that idiot couldn't kill you that easily."

"You were the one who caused all this, right? Hey, I'm talking to you!" He sighed before the massive brush off of the girl. "I keep asking myself why I continue to put up with you… And the man you're looking for is underneath you, turned into a… shapeless mass."

"Well, apparently you did know where you were heading." Oshin simply got off the animal's back, frowning after seeing the state in which the two of them were; especially that of a certain redhead, who despite everything remained standing. "I'm surprised you haven't bled to death already."

"That's not as awesome as the fact that you've domesticated one of those monstrous dogs. Is being a beast tamer your second job or something?" That pretty, shiny smile would get a nice punch someday, she promised.

"…I'm starting to believe that… Considering that until now you've been doing a pretty good job with a certain stupid 'monster' I know." Abuto glanced discreetly at his captain; he needed to relieve let off steam and have fun. And frankly, the circumstances and Kamui's words lend themselves for it.

"Don't insult the Syx… He's more well-behaved and less irritating than what you have as captain", objected vehemently the black-haired woman.

"And since you're here now, why don't you tell us which path we should take to meet the one who's pulling the strings in this place?" The apothecary knew he would come up with something as stupid as that.

"I'll tell you if you let me do something about your wounds first." She knew she couldn't stop him once an idea settled in his head, but at least she could half-fix the situation.

"I hate to admit it, but she's right", Abuto supported. "If the boss that's waiting for us has the same tricks under his sleeve, your ticket to the other world is guaranteed, captain."

"You can tell me what happened while I deal with this idiot." The Syx shook his body, like every dog after a good shower, allowing a pair of metallic cubes to fall down to the floor. "If you want to stand while I bandage you, that's fine." The first box she opened contained bandages, alcohol, disinfectant and apparently, needle and thread.

"It seems they've managed to produce a drug good enough to make people turn into real battle beasts… Even their healing ability is superior to that of any species", explained the brunet, staring at his stubborn captain standing while Oshin focused on taking entirely off the upper part of his clothes; she was cleaning the blood and disinfecting the whole area, and she would surely end up stitching up the wound.

"Aren't they adorable creatures?", the young apothecary asked his patient. "Their claws have enough strength to crush bones while their fangs have the ability to turn steel into mere plasticine... Not to mention their quick reflexes, the hardness of their skin and that piercing howl."

"You sound pretty informed about it." The boy knitted his brows before the lacking gentleness with which she was bandaging his abdomen and chest to finish her first aid. It was like she wanted to leave him without breath or get revenge for one of the many things he'd done to her.

"If they're not tight enough they could untie, and you'll start bleeding again", she justified her brusque act. "And being as you are, we must take precautions, so take this." On the palm of her hand was a small paper envelope. "It'll delay the time of bleeding in case your wounds get worse because of the pressure of the fighting."

"The last time I took something you gave me it tasted… awful." Kids, where?

"Then don't take it and bleed to death once and for all." This was the way he paid for her excellent healing services?

"Just calm down already, both of you…"

"Ugh…This tastes even worse." Kamui agreed to it only because he knew that medicine would carry out its mission and grant him more time inside the battlefield. "These should have better flavor."

"Medicine doesn't have to taste good." Well, at least he had taken them, despite his complaints. "And if there's more of those drugs out there, it only means there'll be more trouble… as much for the Amanto as for human beings…"

"Speaking of insane things, how did you get that thing to follow you here and not try to have you for lunch?"

"Ah, well… It's just… I have this big weakness when I run into defenseless, abandoned puppies… After seeing them I feel this intense need to pet them and take them home with me", she answered to Abuto, turning her back on him and fiddling with some bandages in her hands; it was as if she was extremely embarrassed, nervous and excited about what she was telling them. "And after seeing him locked up there, completely alone and with no one to care for his well-being, I wanted to do the right thing…So I… took him out of his cage… and he made such a mess on the way here… However, I think he's very grateful and now he follows me everywhere." Now she looked at them casually, with a big smile on her lips and an air of pure innocence that showed them what she had done was a noble act and she hadn't caused any harm.

"…You won't make your crime less serious even with that pretty smile…", whispered Abuto to the carefree apothecary.

His fists slammed against the surface of the table, with enough force to turn it into a mere pile of splinters. His muscles tightened, tensing in an unnecessary way while his jaw closed tightly, preventing even the smallest of angry mutters to come out of his mouth. In that moment he wasn't there for anybody, he didn't even want to finish hearing what was obvious to his reasoning; in that instant he only cared about taking his weapon and leaving the room that until recently was his sacred chamber.

Six intruders, each one of them with clear intentions, but that he didn't know about. Six trouble makers he considered suicidal and stupidly brave; the same ones he would personally kick out of his domain, whether they were in one piece or in shreds.

Which of the six of them would he find first?

"It seems somebody isn't in a very good mood tonight. Does that t*** mask hide an ugly face that'd scare any woman that crosses your path? Are you frustrated about all the constant bullying and you decided to go through life with that mask and that old-fashioned weapon?" His hilarious humor, combined with that mocking, wide smile did nothing but p*** the one who'd cross his path off.

"You have to be the samurai everyone's talking about in Yoshiwara. The same one who managed to free this city from Housen's claws."

"And you the new pervert geezer who's trying to follow his steps." He drew his sword form his waist. He knew the moment they stopped talking, real action would begin. "No offense, but this place's much better off without conceited individuals like you… Yoshiwara doesn't need another king or anyone who wants to impose their laws over it."

"A samurai without an owner and with a wooden sword is nothing more than a man whose soul is drying up." He held his mace with his left hand, ready for the moment when he'd to use it to shut that chatty warrior's mouth. "Do you feel satisfied with the lifestyle you're leading now after having remained for so long in the violent battlefields, Shiroyasha?"

"A man like me only needs a warm bed and a beautiful woman serving me a sweet, expensive drink, nothing else." He took a step forward, like he was mimicking the masked man.

"Who would've thought? You turned out to be an easy man to understand." It didn't make sense to keep his face hidden anymore, but every time someone saw it, he managed to get the same expression that he was perceiving in Gintoki's face. "I'm not in Yoshiwara to become the successor of Housen's legacy. This is just a mere entertainment until he decides to show up…" The palm of his right hand moved over his face, over the bandages that covered practically the whole area, the same ones that weren't bothered by the roughness and ugly appearance of the skin exposed through the yellowish fabric. "The man that did this to my face and slaughtered my clan for mere fun; you should be more worried about him than about an outcast like me." Without eyelids or any skin covering his eyes, those eye sockets looked grotesque, as if they would come out at any moment. He was really a monster.

"What kind of freaking madman would do something like this?" It wasn't like he was starting to feel sorry for him and to justify his actions in the name of revenge, but rather he was worried about a beast like that being capable of lurking around Edo.

"…The Yato aren't the only species you should be afraid of, samurai…"

Gintoki understood the message the instant his sword clashed directly against Yuusha's thick metallic mace. If he'd reacted a couple of seconds later, the consequences would've been catastrophic, not to mention fatal.

His body straightened up in a second, both his hands held his wooden sword and he used all his strength to keep that posture, not moving even an inch or he'd be completely crushed.

"Tsk… His strength is overwhelming! He's not at the level of that damn geezer, but is strong enough to stop me from moving from this position without breaking my bones first."

"Will your bones be able to handle the pressure any longer or will they break first?" His other hand joined the sum of forces, aggravating the already delicate situation Gintoki was in. Why was he so strong? And, above all else, how strong was he really? "An unbreakable will won't always guarantee that you survive, Shiroyasha."

For someone as important as him, having to spend his time with individuals of a lower social status than him was a complete waste of time. And even though he tried to turn down that diplomatic audience, he didn't have other choice but to assist the small social event; more than anything due to the words of the one who took care of scheduling the meeting.

A hall decorated with fine, expensive paintings, a big banquet and beautiful women to address any need of the current Shogun. It was all there was needed for the meeting to be a success.

"Go ahead", spoke the great ruler of Edo, Hitotsubashi Nobu Nobu.

"In the name of my teacher, we greatly appreciate that you let us hold this conference, Shogun-sama."

The young girl that came into the hall couldn't be older than thirteen, and nonetheless she possessed a bearing worthy of an experienced diplomat.

From her vivacious, almond-shaped eyes, to her tanned skin and finishing with that dark, short hair, that girl was striking enough not to go unnoticed by all those people. And that she was wearing that nice black sleeveless dress, decorated with numerous white ribbons, made her endearing.

"My name is Touka, Shogun-sama. It is a pleasure to meet you." Her wooden shoes sounded melodiously against the polished floor. And before everyone's eyes, she sat in front of the arrogant man and offered a bow.

"I didn't expect my interviewer to be a… little girl." The brunet was clearly offended. He didn't have the time to waste on a kid.

"My teacher trusts my diplomatic abilities and considers I'm enough to deliver our message, and our petition, to you."

"Speak quickly, I have more important things to do."

"Shogun-sama, have you heard of the Four Imperial Generals?" The silence of the green-eyed man made pretty clear that he did know them.

"And what about it?", he blurted out. "The Four Imperial Generals disappeared after the rise of Tokugawa Sada Sada to the throne."

"In theory, that's what everyone thinks to date", said the brunette with absolute certainty. "However, they're back and are threatening to shatter your empire, my lord. Just like they did years ago."

"What did you say!?" The man stood up from his seat, completely upset and disbelieving. "Don't be telling such a pack of lies, kid. They all died. They perished in battle when they tried to go after Sada Sada's head."

"Are you absolutely sure about that, sir?" The question wasn't the problem, but the pictures she was taking out from her garments. "You must remember their faces. Since for a long time their faces were the most wanted in Edo."

"W-wait a moment…But, this is…" He couldn't believe it, even if he was seeing it with his own eyes; it was them, it was actually those traitors to the country. A bunch of dirty rats that hadn't died and were back for revenge. "How did you get something like these…?" Those photos had turned into a crumpled paper that didn't stop being crushed by his hands.

"They were seen in Osaka, my lord… And even though many have forgotten their faces, my teacher didn't. He recognized them and wanted to notify you as soon as possible."

"It's hard to believe they're still alive… They're supposed to…"

"I think what's important now is to anticipate any possible disturbance." Her caramel pupils focused on the stunned man. "If they've gathered once again, that means they're planning something. And considering their history, it must be related to you."

"So, this meeting was to warn me."

"And also, to offer you our services, my lord", she immediately clarified. "With your permission, we want to form the new police that cares for your safety and Edo's." She fixed her attention on him with an unbreakable conviction. "Let us be the new sword that protects and saves the whole country."