This will be a long chapter. Enjoy!

BETA READ BY AL19

Chapter 17: Crying doesn't mean that the person is weak, it means that the person has a heart.

It didn't stop raining for hours since the trio hijacked the ship. Now, Gintoki met the one who was inside Satsuki's necklace. With her crimson eyes and hideous smile, she brought out the cross-shaped necklace to him.

"So you're Vendetta. You're like a girl in a Lolita outfit." Gintoki exclaimed.

That made Vendetta laugh her gut out. She didn't expect that in this situation; he could manage to bring out a joke. Seconds later, she stopped laughing and lifted the necklace, "Oh, really? But I will tell you a little secret. Satsuki-chan is now inside in this necklace. In short, we swapped places." She placed her finger under her chin and gripped harder at the necklace, "What if…. I destroy her necklace to pieces? What will be the con—"

She was interrupted when Gintoki intended to grab the necklace from her grasp. Sadly, he wasn't lucky because she noticed this and dodged it, giving him a little smirk. She waved her index finger to him, "Tsk. Tsk. If you want to get this then try it, Hero-san…"

Gintoki pointed the tip of his wooden sword to her but when he was about to charge, Vendetta was already in front of him with her pestering smile. She lifted up her long red nails and pierced it inside him. Blood blended in the rain as she pierced it deeper with her smile, "Oh… You're bleeding."

Gintoki clicked his tongue and stabbed Vendetta in her left shoulder. Vendetta couldn't help but grin evilly and compliment him, "Not bad."

She lifted her right hand and punched him hard in the face. Licking her bloody hand again, she taunted at him a little, "Man... you're too boring."

"Oh really?"

The sudden voice from her back surprise her. When she realized it, it was too late, because Gintoki hit her hard using his wooden sword. Vendetta had been hit, but she managed to keep her balance and smiled at him, "Ohhh… But… too weak…"

Gintoki knew that something would happen if he wasn't attentive. Who knew what'd happen in the next second? Vendetta threw the cross necklace up. Seeing this made Gintoki alarmed, he knew that when Vendetta grasped upon that necklace, it was all over. He hurriedly ran towards her, but it was too late for him to reach. Trying to reach that necklace, it felt like time was getting slower; he couldn't reach it. Just then, Vendetta managed to hold it and was about to crash the necklace when a parasol got in her way and managed to take the necklace using it.

"Like hell I'll let you!" Kagura spat with bandages on her left arm and right leg. It made Vendetta angry, so she lifted up her leg to smash her head and at the same time, the necklace. But Kagura managed to toss it to Gintoki before she had the chance to smash in the ground. Suddenly, Shinpachi popped out of the deck and warned them.

"Gin-san! There's a bomb in this deck!" Shinpachi shouted.

Gintoki managed to speak, despite of Vendetta's several attacks to him, "Di-Dis-alarm it or throw it in the ocean!"

"It's impossible! The bomb was placed in different places and I only found one! Also, I don't know how to dis-alarm it!" Shinpachi yelped.

"How many minutes until it explodes?" Gintoki replied.

"T-Ten minutes! D-Don't worry, Gin-san! We will help you bring back Satsuki-san!" Shinpachi said and went off to get Kagura back in the battlefield.

"That look on your face… It's disgusting. I feel like taking something from you." Vendetta noted in a frustrated manner.

Gintoki smirked at her and pointed the tip of his sword, "Really? Then I need a repay if you get something from me. Whether it be an arm or leg...or even my heart! You can take it! So give her back... Give that idiot back to us!"

Again, he charged at her, but this time, Vendetta broke his sword to half, "Then… I would like Sakakibara Satsuki's life!" She grabbed his hair and threw him to a random direction.

"I don't care about your bothersome explanation… But still, you're too…" Her eyes widened when Gintoki stroked back with his frightening expression. Gintoki picked up a random spear and stabbed her with force. Causing her to cough some blood, it was very surprising since it was the first time someone hit her like this. She was challenged by this and manage to take her payback by choking him back.

"Nice try, Hero-san. Did you know that in every move you made to harm me can cause to Satsuki? It means that we are also connected." She grinned sadistically.

Hearing this made Gintoki stutter. If he do something reckless... She could be in pinch. He couldn't escape from her grip even if he struggled more; she'd just tighten her grip, making her nails dig deeper. Just then, Kagura and Shinpachi showed out of nowhere and distracted Vendetta by binding her in the arms. It made Vendetta click her tongue and let go of him. She somersaulted over their backs and threw them off the sea.

"Gin-san! 50 seconds left! You can do it!" Shinpachi screamed.

"Gin-chan, do it!" Kagura screamed also.

Without noticing, Gintoki had been rejuvenated from her attack and he bolted to her.

"You bastard!" Vendetta shouted.

Holding out her cross necklace, he manage to attach back the necklace to its original place. Before the ship exploded, he wraped his arms around her and dove into the sea.

"Thank you…Gintoki..."

It was pitch dark all over the place. Gintoki couldn't comprehend what was happening. The last thing he knew was that he and Vendetta both dove in the sea. Afterwards, he couldn't remember it.

He could hear his name being called multiple times. Somehow, he couldn't open up his eyelids; it felt like a massive bolder was on top of him and he couldn't lift it up. Just then, he was lucky that somehow, he could feel the energy flowing up his body. So, all he had to do was lift his eyelids up. Lifting them up, he saw the sky. It hadn't stopped raining, the clouds were very dark. Indeed, the atmosphere was very depressive. It seemed that his mind still didn't clear up properly. He was in a shore, it was very sandy and you could see the waves of the river splashing to the shore. Wait, there was something that he really forgot. After recollecting his thoughts, he remembered Shinpachi, Kagura and Satsuki. He stood up fast and inspected the shore. But then, he saw Satsuki. She was walking, but her body couldn't take it, so she collapsed. Gintoki hurried towards her. Just then, she managed to stand up and punch Gintoki hard.

It was so hard, that it had a red mark on his face. Making him sit down from the impact. He held his face and complained, "Hey! Just what the hell are you doing? Is that how you pay me back?! I'm the one who—"

He was interrupted when she hugged him tightly, "Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. What the heck did you just do? You freak! Why did you help me? Why did you save me? Because of me, you have been put in this situation! Because of me, you've got into this stupid trouble. It was my fault so… I… don't deserve this!"

She continued to punch him until Gintoki gave up and held out a white flag, "I give up! Stop it!"

"I've always been a burden to all of the people around me… That's why, I don't deserve this…" Her voice started to shake and he noticed this.

Digging his ear, he spoke up, "You know what, you're so unfair. Always smiling every single day like no problems hinder you, you never decided to show your true feelings to other people. You never tried to share your pain with others. Stop forcing yourself, idiotic flat board! If you're hurt and in need, tell us! Cry when you need to cry, let your feelings out. Don't try to stop it! So what if you're going to put us in trouble? We'll protect you till the end! Don't just worry about the others, worry about yourself. Because of not letting out your feelings, maybe one day you'll realize that it's too late!"

In those words, she instantly felt a light sting in her heart. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she realized what he meant. She wrapped her cold arms around him as her voice shook, "I'm sorry for putting all of you in this situation. Also, thank you."

"It's not your fault at all. Sometimes you need to let it out, I know that you're suffering also. I know that you hate seeing people being killed in front of you, failing to protect people around you. Crying is good you know, because tears cleans your exhausted heart to become a better person, who will smile for the present and conquer troubles in front of you." He replied while looking upon the sky, "The sky has cleared up."

Suddenly, Kagura and Shinpachi, who also got washed up to shore, showed up. The duo waved at them, telling them to go now. Gintoki stood up and offered his hand to her, "Come on, let's go home."

She took his hand and replied, "Sure."

It had been days since the incident with the Kihetai. However, Satsuki didn't leave her room with...no reasons. She wouldn't even share it to the trio. Making them worried about this, they tried all of the possible issues that could've caused her to be like this. Still, they couldn't really identify the real answer since she wasn't speaking up. Apparently, the trio were eves dropping at the room.

"Gin-san, she isn't barging a step…" Shinpachi murmured.

"Gin-chan, you sleep together in the same room, right? Did you found out about anything? Or maybe you did something dirty to-"

Gintoki stretched Kagura's potty mouth. Obviously, he didn't even know. Even though they were sleeping in the same room, she was just staring at the blanket for hours. Gintoki couldn't take this, so he proceeded to the couch, "Leave her alone. If she doesn't want to talk about it, then don't mind her."

"Gin-san, aren't you worried about her?" Shinpachi asked.

"It's not like I'm not worried about her! Just give her time; that will solve the problem!" Gintoki exclaimed.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Shinpachi immediately headed straight to the door and pulled it open. To his surprise, he saw Toushiro in front of it, with his cigarette in his mouth, "I would like to discuss something to you."

The atmosphere was so chilly, that ice could spring up in the middle of the room. Shinpachi did his job on waking up the atmosphere but still, he failed. Again, he tried his luck to lighten up the mood, "I-It's a good weather, isn't it?"

"I'll discuss something important to you." Toushiro finally spoke.

'So you're ignoring me?!' Shinpachi thought while gritting his teeth.

"I'll ask you one thing, what is the date today?" Toushiro asked.

"July 1st." Shinpachi said.

Toushiro exhaled some smokes from his mouth, "Tomorrow?"

"July 2nd." Shinpachi replied.

"Anything special?" Toushiro asked.

The trio thought of things that could hit the right answer. Unfortunately, they couldn't think of anything. Rather, they wrecked their brains up for nothing.

"You don't even know? Satsuki had been staying for months here, yet you don't even know her birthday?!" Toushiro snapped. These guys were totally idiots; they never even knew when Satsuki's birthday was.

Hearing this made the trio think again. Maybe that was the reason why Satsuki acted like this.

"So, you want us to discuss about her birthday party? Jeez, she isn't a baby anymore!" Gintoki retorted.

It made Toushiro pissed, but he managed to keep his cool. Knowing that hitting this idiot would waste time and energy. Again, he exhaled some smoke from his mouth and answered, "Tomorrow, Satsuki will be 24. And she haven't even had any proper debut so serve it as her debut also!"

"But Mayora, I think that Satsuki-chan won't be needing a party! Maybe she'll just think of it as a children's party! I'm sure that she wouldn't like that, uh-huh!" Kagura answered.

Toushiro lifted up a brow, "You really don't know about her. I think that ever since her parents died, all she could focus on was work, money and finding a way to solve her problems. She couldn't care less about her own birthday. Maybe she doesn't even know that her birthday will be tomorrow. I'm telling you this, because you're precious to her. I want her 24th birthday be memorable for her. By the way, the party will be held at the Shinsengumi Headquarters."

"Ehh? Why in your wrecked house?! I want Satsuki-chan's birthday to be special! So I want her to celebrate here, uh-huh!" Kagura complained.

"I don't want to hear your opinion. Tomorrow will be the preparation so as much as possible, the boss lady and the China girl will make Satsuki busy. Buy her anything or do something relaxing. But be sure to return exactly 7:00 pm. That's all." Toushiro replied and left the headquarters.

July 2, 8:00 am

"Satsuki-chan, let's play!" Kagura entered the room.

Satsuki and Gintoki were disrupted by this and they rubbed their eyes. Both asking what was wrong with Kagura, she didn't reply, and dragged her outside. Satsuki was very surprised by this sudden action, because Kagura was acting really differently. They both went outside the Yorozuya. It seemed that it'd get rough to Satsuki, since it was very high. Telling Kagura to slow down wasn't an option to the vermillion-haired girl. As soon as they both successfully went down, Satsuki could feel her blood rush. Kagura dragged her again, but this time, to the Shimura's residence.

There, Otae was waiting for her outside the house. The 24-year-old girl didn't have the chance to dress up at all. She was still wearing her pajamas without some footwear. The girls both dragged Satsuki, firstly at the clothes store.

"Gin-san, wake up."

"Shut up, Shinpachi."

"Gin-san, wake up."

"I told you to shut your mouth! Today is Saturday mother, I don't have classes."

"Hey! I am not your mother! Also today isn't Saturday! It's Tuesday! It's July 2, Satsuki-san's birthday!" Shinpachi yelped.

"So what if it's that flat board's birthday?! It's not like I care! Just let me sleep; let Gin-san rest." Gintoki replied while pulling the blanket up again.

Shinpachi had enough of this and pulled it down, "Enough already, Gin-san! It's her 24th birthday, you know, so give some consideration! Come on, let's go to the Shinsengumi Headquarters already!"

Finally, after a few minutes of urging the lazy perm head, Gintoki was forced to come. The two headed to the Shinsengumi Headquarters to help with the preparations. Since Gintoki didn't want to help, he decided on an alibi for him to escape in this preparation.

"Shinpachi… Tell flat board later that she should go to the Kabuki Chou garden at exactly 7:30 PM. That's all, gotta leave." Gintoki exclaimed.

"Hey, Gin-san! Where are you going?" Shinpachi asked.

Gintoki used his right hand to signal, rotating it slowly. Shinpachi knew that he'd go to the Pachinko Parlor. It couldn't be helped; he'd just be a hinder here. Instead of nagging him again, he ignored him and continued preparing.

7:00 PM.

"Let's go, Satsuki-chan! Hurry! Hurry!" Kagura shouted with excitement while running. Well, as for the birthday girl, she wasn't even excited. Moreover, she was very clueless about this.

"W-Wait, Kagura-chan, Shimura-san, I am getting tired running in these sandals. Just what the heck is this? Why am I dressed like this? It's embarrassing you know." Satsuki lightly blushed while fidgeting. She wasn't comfortable with some girly clothes, since she grew up wearing plain ones, that's all. Currently, she was wearing a long red kimono with red patterns and a clip in her bun. She felt like she was in a festival.

Otae giggled to her words and patted her shoulders, "Satsuki-san there's no need to be embarrassed; you are beautiful. Come on, let's go." They both pushed Satsuki's back. Stumbling, the door automatically opened and there, people welcomed her.

"Happy Birthday!" All of the people there gave her a warm greeting.

It made her feel warm inside; she raised a brow, "Ohhh. I totally forgot it was my birthday today. Umm. How old am I? Umm. 30?"

"Satsuki-san you also forgot about your age and that's way too old!You're 24 already." Shinpachi corrected.

"Oh, I see, it was my debut. Man, it's been 24 years. Thank you everyone!" Satsuki smiled at them.

The people around her invited her inside the Barracks. A few minutes had past. Shinpachi, who was enjoying the party, remembered what Gintoki said a while ago. Exactly, Satsuki sat beside him and whispered something in his ear, "Shinpachi, where is Gintoki?"

"Gin-san said that you should meet him in the Kabuki Chou garden at exactly 7:30 PM. But... It's already passed 7:30, in a couple of minutes it'll be 8:00—Wait! Satsuki-san, where are you going?" Shinpachi floundered.

"I'll go right now! Tell them I went to the bathroom and had diarrhea! Just give out any excuse, bye!" Satsuki said, leaving the room, unnoticeable.

"What will I say, exactly?" Shinpachi asked himself.

Satsuki hurriedly ran to the Kabuki Chou garden. Even though it was hard walking with sandals, she had an idea. She took off her sandals and continued to run. Wouldn't bother getting any blisters since she was already late. It might have been so important, that he'd call her off; that's what she thought. Exactly 8:00 pm, Satsuki arrived at the park while panting. She wore her sandals again and saw Gintoki lying in the grass.

"You're late, idiot." Gintoki complained. He threw a bouquet of flowers plus a box to her. Luckily, she caught it on time.

"Seriously, flowers? Wait. Where did you get the money on buying this? I know that you're an old man who has no money. Did you stole it?" Satsuki taunted.

"Like hell I would steal, just how low is your trust towards me? I won in the pachinko, be great that I bought a present for you!" Gintoki retorted.

Satsuki let out a smile, and took a peek in the box. She saw a pair of pink hair clips, making her pissed, "Are you mocking me? You know that I hate pink."

Gintoki stood up and headed towards her while picking his nose, "Huh? Pink is a color for girls. You are a girl so that suits you well. Also, your bangs are always getting in the way, right? If you want to throw it then throw it."

Satsuki giggled to this, she clipped it on her right part of her hair, "I won't throw it! Because it was your first gift to me. Even though I hate the color pink, I will treasure it."

"Okay, got it. But first, come with me." Gintoki held her wrist and dragged her off the garden.

It made her surprised again, and she asked, "W-Where are we going?!"

Gintoki ignored her rattling. They eventually went into an abandoned mansion. It wasn't really abandoned, it was just dark, but there was no ghost in it. Also, it was very high. Seeing this made Satsuki feel chills on her back, "H-Hey! Are we going inside it?! You're really mocking me!"

Again, he ignored her complaints and dragged her inside. Satsuki hated these sort of things, she really hated abandoned mansions especially at midnight. It gave her goose bumps. To her surprise, there was an elevator; they both rode in it. Satsuki could feel that Gintoki was up to something, so she had to be attentive.

"Hey, why are you glaring at me? Do you think I'm a molester?" Gintoki asked. Just then, the elevator opened up, taking them on the highest place of the building. He wasn't letting go of her wrist. Again, he pulled her out and headed to the balcony.

She felt it right away and immediately disagreed to his idea, "H-Hey! W-Wait! Why are we heading to the balcony?!"

"Just come with me! I'll show you something different!" Gintoki tugged her wrist for the umpteenth as she struggled from his grip.

"No! I won't go! That's my fear and you know it!"

"Don't be inclined in your fears! Sometimes you need to fight it! I'll let you see something beautiful, so be thankful, idiot!" Gintoki won the struggling contest. Both were already in the balcony. Satsuki immediately gripped onto his kimono.

She was completely scared by this, "G-Gintoki, d-don't let g-go."

"I'll hold onto you, so face straight." Gintoki said.

Satsuki nodded and faced straight. She was utterly shocked on what she saw. All she could see was the light of various buildings because the buildings were very high; the scenery was very beautiful. "Beautiful…"

"Too bad you have fear of heights..."

"Yeah, but thanks to you, I saw this beautiful scenery…"

After that incident, the two immediately headed back to the Headquarters. As expected, they were again misunderstood because they were together again. Toushiro immediately dragged Satsuki into a room where no one could find them.

"W-What is it?" Satsuki panicked.

"Tomorrow at 10:00 AM in front of the ice cream store near the Cherry blossoms. Don't forget that." Toushiro said and they both exited the room. The party started again and some booze was presented. The men wanted the celebrant to drink sake. So to pay their efforts, she granted it and drink a sip. Even though it was her first time drinking it. Seconds later, her face became red and started hiccuping. The men kept cheering at her to take another but she took a bottle and drank it without hesitation.

"Come on! Pull out more beers! Or else you're going to die, bullshits!" Satsuki commanded. She tugged on Kondo's collar, "Hey! Gorrilllaaaa, whuzdat!? H-Hey! Anszxwer me you idiot!" Kondo didn't even have any chance to answer since she threw him in a random direction. Making all of the visitors jaw dropped, they didn't know that she had low resistance in alcohol.

"Bring meh szake hurry or all heards will fry!" She pointed a katana to them, making all of the men escape from this horrible scene. Just then, Satsuki spotted Gintoki escaping so she gripped on his shirt, "Hrey! Pway wirth me!" She threw him back at the headquarters with the door being crashed.

"Help me!" Gintoki screamed while crawling.

Gintoki's POV.

Satsuki was getting closer now. This was bad, I needed to escape now or else I was going to be devoured by her. She crawled to me. please don't let her get clo—Wait! On second thought, she wasn't a flat board! Wait, what am I thinking?!

As she was crawling, I could see her chest. Oh, bless me melons! She held a light blush Without noticing, I was already at the corner, no place to get back. Man, she was se—Wait! I didn't have time thinking about that! I needed to get out! But still, her melons were h—Stop thinking, already! I slapped my face harder and I noticed that she was already in front of me.

"S-Satsuki-chan?"

She hiccuped again. Oh, I could smell her breath, it smelled like sake. She was getting closer to me and I knew that danger would fall over me. Oh dear melons, save me!

"Y-You down't rike mer?" She slurred.

Obviously, I couldn't understand what she was saying. But I replied, "N-No."

She smiled at me, still blushing. So cute, so cute, but please get off me already! I didn't want to be dominated! She got closer again until our faces were mere inches from each other, "Thwank yow! Oh, bway thaw way, I hwave to sway swomethring tro you. I'll sway it cweary."

I gulped from hearing this.

"I love you, Gintoki."

Wait? What?! She wasn't being serious, right?! I widened my eyes in surprise. I knew that she was drunk, but they say that when a person gets drunk, there's a possibility that they will tell the truth. Man, I could feel myself heating up! I know that was a lie! She was just joking!

"S-Satsuki-chan, you're lyi—"

The next thing I knew, she landed her soft lips against mine. Wait! Did she just kiss me?! Ehhh?!

"That wasn't a lie~" She said with a wink and passed out.

Satsuki's POV

"I'm late! Gotta hurry!" I shouted as I prepared my kimono before dashing out of the room Of course, I wouldn't forget about these pink hair clips in my hair. Just then, Gintoki called me out. Honestly, I was really pissed by now because I was already late.

"Oi. Satsuki, do you remember something last night?" He asked.

I arched a brow up, "None! What is it?!"

"What kind of silly reply is that?! You just stole my kiss and told me that you love me!"

I instantly denied it, "There's no way I did that!"

I slid the door close and rested upon it while biting my thumb. I blushed hard to his words.

That was my first kiss! How dare he stole it from me?! This was bad; my heart was starting to race. I needed to go now! I had to forget what happened!

CHERRY BLOSSOMS

"T-Toushiro! Sorry for being late!" I apologized.

He offered me a seat in the bench as I stared at the cherry blossoms falling. Still, I couldn't erase on what Gintoki just told me!

"Do you remember what I said about the girl I like?" Toushiro asked.

I nodded in response and began to verify who it was, "Tell me! I can help you make a move on her!"

He offered me a Popsicle. Unwrapping it, and biting on it, I asked him a second time, "Who. Is. It?"

He blew out some smoke and answered, "In fact, she's already here, beside me."

In those words, I instantly looked all over the place and saw nothing but the girl who was selling the Popsicle. I was bewildered by this, "Ehh!? You love the seller?!"

"Of course not!" He shouted back.

"Then…" I pointed to myself, "Me?"

He nodded. I chuckled to his answer, "I also love you as a friend!"

He gave me a serious look, and I flinched, "I mean romantically, I thought of you nothing like a friend but more than that."

"Super mega friends?!" I asked.

"Of course not! Stop using friends already!" He yelled.

He blew smoke again, "I love you, Sakakibara Satsuki, not just a friend but romantically. Please go out with me."

Saying those words made my world shutter. Did someone just confess to me? Moreover, my best friend? Wha-What kind of sorcery was this?!

"Eh? What? D-Don't joke around with me!" I began to glance at random directions.

Avoiding his eyes, he replied, "I'm not."

The Popsicle was beginning to melt and I took a bite of it, trying to relieve my racing heart.

"Want some proof?"

"Y-Yeah!" I ate another part of the Popsicle and eyed him.

"U-Um—" I was stopped when I felt something soft onto my lips. My eyes widened from this sudden realization.

Did Toushiro just kiss me?

I tell you this is under reconstruction so I changed Satsuki's age to 18 into 24. And in the previous chapters before her birthday she was 17 into 23. So that's all, any clarifications? None, okay Oguushi-kun stand on the corner. (WAIT I AM LIKE GINPACHI-SENSEI)