Kebchii says: Oh my glob, YAAAAAS! Finally, a new chapter. I know you guys have been waiting for this FOR AGES, and I have, too. I've read a lot of doujinshi in the past few days that inspiration sparked me up and I was able to finish this. Thank you for your constant support and reviews. Make sure to let me know what you think of this chapter. I had not written for a while and I think I'm getting a little rusty. I am but a potato, people.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gintama. Copyrights are respected.

Summer Heat

Kebchii

Okita Sougo sighed, exasperated, as the annoyingly-stubborn-and-overly-dramatic China continued to fume and ignore him for the rest of the day. After his little announcement earlier at the Mannequin Show booth, Kagura had raged (like she always did when she had to face things she didn't want to deal with it) and demanded the Rabu Chain people to take the 'damn things' off of them. Before he could say his piece, she was already storming off back to their classroom. The expression on his alleged fiancé showed she was already growing suspicious of his relationship with China, but of course, he wasn't worried at all. He could just say it was a silly, little lover's quarrel, which it was.

He let China have her space and cool off a little. This gave him time to think about what his parents had done this time. Why they were messing up his life again, he didn't know. After all, he did his best in following their whims just so he could have the independence he was enjoying right now. His sister knew he was indifferent towards them and understood it. She supported his decision of wanting to leave the house and live on his own. Although he was disappointed that she didn't want to go with him, he respected her decision and her love for her work in their father's company. His father was a succesful businessman who obviously loved his work. It was so obvious that Sougo wasn't surprised he spent more time on it than with his family. His mother wasn't too far behind. When she wasn't at home hosting a party, she was attending one. His parents' circle of friends (if they even consider themselves that) consisted of people who thought more about what others think of their wardrobe choice and thought their Botox treatments weren't evident. He wondered if that Miho girl was one of his parents' friends' daughter. Unless she was different, which he strongly doubted with the way she overly dressed herself earlier, it was only a matter of time before she thinks that being too thin to the point of fragility was the new sexy. Seriously, Kagura's insecurities were petty if one asked him. With her black hole of an appetite and energetic personality, she was pleasingly fit. In the case of her boobs, it had grown significantly (which to the naked eye was invisible) through the years and he figured it would grow even more in a few years. As if he had any say in it, Sougo nodded in understanding.

Sougo shook his head. He was getting off-track. He had to think about what to do with his parents. They were probably going to hold another family reunion. He hated family reunions. What was the point when he didn't even know more than half of the people at the gathering? They were probably just guests his parents wanted to show their wealth off to. Once, he was forced to attend with the plead of his sister saying if she were to go through it alone that time, she was gonna go crazy and probably embarrass herself. So to the rescue he went. He wanted to sit in a corner far away from everyone else but he had to sit beside his sister. The only good thing in the party was that he was allowed to drink fine champagne as he listened to the disgustingly polite conversation around him. His mother and aunts were talking about marriages and he had to take his hat off to his sister as she skilfully and elegantly evaded their questions and suggestions. He wasn't too surprised when the conversation turned to him.

"What about you, Sougo, dear? You'll be of marriageable age soon. I've heard that quite a few of my friends' daughters have taken a liking to you."

He raised an eyebrow at his mother's affectionate call of his name. He briefly wondered where the honorific '-san' went. He feigned curiosity. "Is that so, Mother? It's such a shame though, that I won't be able to meet them considering I have to leave town first thing in the morning. I still have classes, after all."

His mother had frowned at that, but not too much or else wrinkles would start forming their way on her face. She politely dropped that topic for now.

Sougo hated it. He hated the polite conversations, the fake smiles, the stuffy suits he had to get into. He hated how he couldn't be himself and speak freely. He would have but he didn't want to embarrass his sister, although she did say she wasn't opposed to the things he wanted to do.

If word got out to his parents about him having a girlfriend, then they would want to meet her. For once, Sougo cursed himself for acting so rash and dragging Kagura into his mess. He didn't want her to know how pathetic his family were (Aneue's an exception).

Perhaps he made a bad move this time. He'd have to talk to Kagura.

Kagura looked up at the darkening sky as she dumped the trash she was asked to throw. The class had just finished cleaning up and unexpectedly, the first day was tiring but successful. After her messed up break time earlier, she had dedicated all of her attention and time into working at their cafe. Surprisingly, the sadist had been quiet and she was not in the slightest disappointed that he didn't go out of his way to talk to her and explain the crap he had said. Nope, not at all. And what was with that fiance bull? Was he playing with her all this time? Annoyed, she frowned and started to head back to the classroom. Well, screw him and his fiance. They can have their wedding at the dumpsite for all she cared.

She walked on the empty hallways of the school. With the sky going dark and almost all of the classroom lights were off, it was kinda unnerving for Kagura. It was stupid how her she suddenly got Vulcan hearing in these kinds of situation. She jerked at the slightest sounds and looked over her shoulder more than necessary. The trip back to the classroom had never been this far before.

Kagura heard a distinct creak of a door and she stopped. She looked over her shoulder again and only saw the dark hallway she had just passed. Shrugging, she turned in front and was about to take a step when she felt something grab her wrist. She gasped, her heartbeat accelerating. She wasn't able to let out a scream as the thing covered her mouth and drag her inside an empty classroom.

She thrashed but the thing had its arm around her waist tightly. She was panicking and her voice was muffled by the hand that was on her mouth. Annoyed, she opened her mouth and bit it.

"OW! What the hell, China!?"

When the hold on her loosened, she pushed against her captor to free herself. Even in the dark, Kagura was able to make out his bloodshot eyes and sandy hair. "What the - it was only you!"

Sougo frowned as he rubbed his sour hand. "What? You were expecting a ghost or something?"

"It could have been a lot better than the monster I'm with here now!"

"Ouch, you're breaking this poor handsome boy's heart."

Seething, Kagura jammed her index finger against his chest. "Why did you drag me inside this place anyway?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"And you couldn't have just spoken to me back at the classroom like a normal person?"

"Now where's the fun in that?"

"Goodbye, Sadist." She started for the door.

He reached for her and held her wrist to stop her. "Wait! Okay. No more jokes. I didn't want to speak to you in front of everyone else. If we were back there, you would have made another lame excuse to avoid me, anyway."

Kagura opened her mouth to say something but bit back, knowing he was right and settled at glaring.

"Okay, first things first. I know you were jealous of that girl earlier -"

"No, I'm not!" Kagura blushed, out of embarrassment or anger she wasn't sure, but she raised a fist and swung at him.

Sougo caught it easily. "-but I'm telling that you shouldn't be. Let's face it, as much as it pains me to say, you are much prettier." He smirked when she started getting redder than before. "And you must be shocked to see her but you have to know that it's news to me that I actually have a fiance."

She tried to free her hand from the sadist's hold but it wouldn't budge. "Then what was that all about? And was she for real? Are you two for real? You can't just go say those things you've said to me for the past few weeks and then suddenly pop out a girl you were gonna marry."

If that wasn't jealousy, then screw everyone else, thought Sougo as he tried to suppress his smug face. "I'm telling you right now that I'm not planning on marrying that girl. I don't even know her! And besides," Sougo trailed as he adjusted his hold on her hand and smoothly entwined their fingers. "We're too young for marriage as of the moment."

Kagura tried her best not to focus her attention on their joined hands. "What's with the 'we' there, Sadist?"

He gave her an exasperated look and sighed. "Oh, you know what I'm talking about, China."

"Oh my god, did you just propose to me?"

He ignored her last question. "My parents were probably the ones who set us up." He watched as her expression went sober as anger dissipated and replaced with confusion.

"Really? Those things still happen nowadays? You guys are probably rich, then!"

"Stupid," he said as he gently bonked her on the head with his free hand. "Arranged marriages don't just happen with rich people."

She glared at him as she touched the part where he hit, although she didn't really feel a thing. Her expression turned to confusion again as she asked, "So is she really your fiance?"

"No, because I never gave my consent and never will."
Kagura ignored the relief she just felt and kept her mouth shut. They were silent for a few seconds before Sougo spoke again.

"I noticed you were quite surprised about what I said at the mannequin booth-"

"You don't say."

"-and I really don't get what the big deal was. I mean, it was gonna happen sooner or later anyway." Sougo frowned at her as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Kagura had to stop herself from beating the crap out of him. "Then why mention it at that time? Was it actually for the reason you'd have her off your back?"

His eyes glared at her. "Of course not. We both know how many times I've already hinted just how much I want to go out with you."

Kagura was perplexed at how calm he was saying all those things.

"And as far as I'm concerned, you're not opposed to the idea as much as you were before."

"Don't be so smug," she mumbled, flustered.

Sougo grinned. "I can't help it."

But Kagura saw how the smile soon faded and was replaced with an expression she wasn't used to seeing in the sadist's face. He seemed apologetic.

"But it was bad timing to say it at that time," Sougo said and Kagura felt his hold on her hand loosen as if to let go.

She tightened her hold on his hand. "What do you mean?"

"I'm going to have to speak with my parents to stop this marriage crap and I don't want to drag you into it. For now, we've got to hold ourselves back."

He winked and she almost gagged. However, she didn't let him change the topic. "But aren't you going to have a hard time convincing them? I know you aren't actually on good terms with your parents."

He wondered how she knew that then vaguely remembered telling her in the middle of the night back at the resort. Sougo rolled his eyes. "It's going to be fine."

Kagura bit her lip as she stared at their joined hands. She had no idea just how much of a problem it was to Sougo but she couldn't just ignore it. "What can I do to help?"

Sougo's eyebrows shot up. He was surprised she offered to help. Shaking his head, he said, "You don't have to do anything."

"But I want to help."

"I don't need your help, China. Most likely you're just gonna mess things up even more with that stupidity of yours."

She insisted that she wanted to help and he was hell bent on refusing her that they ended up arguing again.

When enough was enough, Kagura was full-throttle-annoyed and exploded. "This would have been a lot easier if you would just admit that you like me and ask me to be your girlfriend! But I guess that's just not the way it really is, huh? Not with all these fiance and arranged marriages you've got going on." She glared as she harshly jerked her hand from the boy's hold.

He wanted to pull his hair out at the level of frustration he was feeling with this girl. "For the love of - It's not true that I have an arranged marriage and it's not true that I have a fiance, not that I'm aware of anyway." He kept his hands to his sides to stop himself from banging their heads together. "But it is true that I like you and that I want you to be my girlfriend!"

"Well, you idiot, I like you, too!" Raging, Kagura swiftly grabbed the front of his collared shirt and dragged him down to her lips. Sougo's hands immediately went to the sides of her face as their eyes closed and the feelings they've been holding broke loose.

As his mouth moved against hers, he felt his surrounding slowly fade only to be replaced by the girl's mere existence as her smell surrounded him and her voice drown him. Kagura's arms moved around his neck and pulled him closer. Their kiss was frantic; lips breaking away for a moment only to connect again. The girl hadn't even realized she was already backed against the wall until she felt the boy's whole body pressed against hers. The kiss slowed and Sougo did one last bite on her lower lip that sent her already fuzzy mind going haywire before they separated. They were panting as he laid his forehead on her shoulder.

"That certainly escalated quickly," he commented a moment later, his forehead still on her shoulder.

With her arms still around the boy, Kagura rested her flaming cheek against his hair. "Asshole, what did you do to me?" She pounded a fist against his back.

Sougo drew back, his arms still around her waist and glared at her. "Don't act so innocent. You were the one who pushed their tongue in first!"

She punched him in the face.

His nose was throbbing as he held it. Silence filled the moonlit room when both of them continued to glare at each other. Then his eyes softened, admitting defeat; he pulled her closer and rested his chin on the top of her head. Kagura was surprised but she didn't push him away. "There's a reason as to why I have that 'I-really-don't-care' feel towards my parents, you know."

"Don't underestimate me. I can handle them."

"I'm not underestimating you. It's the opposite, actually. I don't think they can handle you."

Kagura smiled then, feeling a little happy that he was starting to trust her and rely on her. She looked up when she felt him pull away. "You can stop worrying now, then."

He couldn't stop his eyes from lingering on her lips. "Who said I was worried?" He mumbled as he drove in for another kiss.

Edited. 09-05-16.

A/N: I am terribly sorry for all of the misspellings in this fic. I have no idea how they get here as I'm pretty careful even when writing my draft. I was re-reading this for my own pleasure then ended up cringing at all the misspelled words. I think my breaking point was when I read 'sexperience'. I laughed so hard and at the same time so freaking embarrassed about it. There are still a lot of misspellings in the previous chapter and if you, dear reader, are reading this then I congratulate you and thank you for enduring my stupidity.