Chapter 19: Rejection isn't funny at all.
Beta-read by: AL19
"So why are we here?" Gintoki and the others asked.
Currently, they were at Snack Smile. The bar was very unusual today, since there were only few girls working there. There were only few customers and it had a gloomy atmosphere. The Yorozuya had been called for a certain job. And right now, Otae was seated across from them.
"We need Satsuki-san now." Otae blurted out.
"What?" The Yorozuya asked, clueless.
"I told you, we need Satsuki-san now." Otae said with her terrifying smile. They knew that something would happen if they didn't pick the best words for her. If they did a pick the wrong ones, the next second, they'd already be in a dump site. They were thinking about something until Satsuki suddenly asked without any warning.
"Why? Why would you need me? If you'll tell me that I'll work here, I won't accept it." Satsuki asked.
"Ehh? Why?" Otae asked with her furious aura.
The trio were petrified by her sudden conclusion. She didn't even think twice about what she said; a straightforward girl.
"Like hell I'll do it. I'm done wearing embarrassing outfits. Just why did you need me? There are many hostess here!" Satsuki rattled.
"Actually, there's a battle going here. It's between the Hostess and the hosts. Also, there are many hostess who are sick today so we need Satsuki-san to be our eye-catcher for the boys. If we lose, this will be embarrassing." Otae said with a worried tone.
"Sis… Satsuki-san, I think you should help-" Shinpachi encouraged, but he was interrupted when Satsuki answered.
"No. That's my final answer." Satsuki bluntly stated while digging into her ear. She was already tired of these offers. So this time, she would have no mercy to them.
"If we win, we will give you 50% of the money we get." Otae offered.
"No, 75%." Gintoki butted in, making Otae slam his face on the table.
"50% is enough, Gin-san." Otae told him.
"Hey! Wait, why aren't you joining me in the conversation, uh-huh! I can also be a hostess, uh-huh!" Kagura proudly announced.
"Let Kagura-chan have this job. I won't really cooperate with this thing, I'm done already." Satsuki said with a tiresome tone as she rested her arms in the couch.
"Satsuki said it was okay." Gintoki said.
That made Satsuki refuse completely, "Huh? Don't make decisions to yourself!"
"Listen, we didn't have any jobs these days! So if we successfully took over this place, we'd have food for tomorrow! Think about it! Plus, you're just going to serve me!" Gintoki argued back.
She squinted her eyes to him, "No way, I won't serve you. You're moles—"
She wasn't able to continue her sentence when Gintoki used his hand to slap her, "Oi! I'm not!" He faced Otae and cleared his throat, "We will accept it as long as Satsuki will just serve me."
"No way! I rather serve other boys than you! Hey wait, where are you taking me?!" Satsuki struggled at Gintoki's grip while he dragged her in the dressing room. While Satsuki was taking her time dressing, the hosts barged in the Club.
"We won't lose to your club, Kyoushiro-san!" Otae exclaimed.
"Hmmm. We don't really have the intention to fight but—" Kyoushiro was interrupted when the brunette girl answered.
"No! We accepted this challenge so we won't lose!"
"I-I told you, we don't really want to—"
"No, we will win this! Now, go back to your puny host club! Let's see who will win!" Otae declared, making the men leave the club with an uneasy feeling.
Finally, Satsuki went outside of the dressing room while panting. Positioned like a haggard construction worker with her eyes completely wide she managed to speak, "Now are you satisfied?!"
The trio, plus Otae, clapped with amazement, "That's good."
She wore a side ponytail on her left side with a pink hair clip on the left side of her hair and a long white kimono with flower patterns on it. Trying to hide her embarrassment, Satsuki raised her arm up, "W-What?"
"Don't try to hide it. It suits you. Plus, I won't let any boy get near you." Gintoki promisingly stated.
She squinted her eyes at him and retreated her arms against him, "That serves that you're really a molester. I will be fair enough for the other boys so—"
"Otae, we will be free here right? Then, I'll take Satsuki!" Gintoki announced.
Satsuki jumped in surprise, and at the same time, she was angry about this, "Then there's no meaning on taking this job if you get me! Tch."
"By the way, Satsuki-san, the special guests are already here so please welcome them, along with Oryou-chan." Otae requested.
She nodded at her and headed towards the door. Shinpachi and Gintoki went beside Otae.
"Oi, Otae, who are those guests you invited? You're not thinking it's the Shogun, right?" Gintoki asked.
"Hm? Of course not, I invited special guests for this challenge! I'll make sure that we're going to win this!" Otae cheered.
"So just tell us who the heck are those people?" Gintoki questioned.
"It's the Shinsengumi."
"Eh?" Shinpachi and Gintoki jaw dropped to that realization.
Meanwhile at Satsuki and Oryou's side, they were both nervous to this situation. Satsuki couldn't comprehend on what she'd do her. She did work in a restaurant but not in a cabaret, so she didn't know how to soothe some men's heart. They both held the door and on the count of three, they opened it.
"Jeez, Kondo-san, we are just wasting our time in—" Toushiro gasped on what he saw. As well as Satsuki, who stepped backward on what she saw. The least that she didn't want to see now was her childhood friend, because of what happened the last time.
"Otae-san, please mar—" Isao was unable to continue his statement when Otae kicked him.
"Hey! Don't forget me! I am a hostess also, uh-huh!" Kagura argued with her monstrous look.
"Hey. I went to a cabaret club to see a beautiful girl, not a beast." Sougo mocked Kagura, causing them to fight again.
"Ahahahaha. W-W-W-W-" Satsuki couldn't say the word 'welcome', because of this uneasy feeling inside.
"Welcome! Who will you pick?" Oryou greeted them.
"I pick Satsuki!" Gintoki intruded.
"Wait! We aren't asking for your opinion!" Oryou argued.
"Shut up! I'll get this blue haired flat board as my hostess!" Gintoki announced.
"Then, I will pick Otae-san!" Isao proudly announced. But Otae gave a blunt "no", causing him to feel sad and cry his butt out.
A wild nerve cracked at Toushiro's features, "Fine. I pick Satsuki also."
"It's not Satsuki, you Mayora! It's Suki! By the way, I am Gura!" Kagura shouted.
Satsuki couldn't think of a possible way where she could escape this mess. In the corner of her eye, she saw Shinpachi spacing out. So she immediately grabbed his arms, making him surprise. She announced proudly, "I-I-I-I am so-sorry everyone! Shinpachi was the first one to pick me."
"Huh?! What are you saying Satsu—" He was unable to speak when he saw her glaring at him. Gulping, he reasoned out also, "Y-Yeah. S-Sorry, everyone."
It made Otae agitated and she jumped on him with her kick, "Who told you to drink and have fun with girls?!"
"Gyaaaaaaah!"
"So in the end, I was in the middle of a v-shaped guy and a perm headed guy…" Satsuki sighed deeply as she kept glancing on the corner of her eye. The two kept on glaring at each other like cats and dogs. Satsuki glanced at Kagura and Sougo's, table making her squint more.
"Hey! Ms. Cabaret girl! I don't want this beast over here!" Sougo pointed at Kagura, who was tied in a rope to the ceiling.
"Shut the fuck up!" Kagura continued to clench her teeth from anger.
"Change the cabaret girl. Let me have Suki-chan." Sougo sadistically stated.
Satsuki flinched on what Sougo announced. It was like everyone was toying with her; Satsuki was pissed.
"Oi. Satsuki, pour me some sake." Gintoki commanded.
A nerve cracked upon her face, "Do it on your own, bastard."
"Is that how you treat your customer?!" Gintoki retorted.
Satsuki slammed her fist on the table causing it to crack and break, "You're not trying to help! Do you know what situation I'm in here?! All you think about is sake!"
The other customers and the cabarets, including Toushiro, stared at the raging girl. Toushiro couldn't help but try to calm her by pulling her towards him. Now, their faces were very close. Making Satsuki heat up, she retreated her wrist from him. She instantly bowed at the duo, "I-I'm sorry." After that, she went to the washroom.
"Oi. Yorozuya boss." Toushiro called.
"What?"
"You like Satsuki, right?" Toushiro asked.
It was very quiet when Toushiro asked that, but a few seconds later, Gintoki managed to answer, "Yes, so what?"
After hearing this, Toushiro stood up and rushed to the washroom. When he was there, he saw Satsuki on the sink with her wet face. Satsuki gulped harder at this situation since it was only the two of them there.
"Satsuki?" He asked.
She stood up straight and faced him. Tapping both of his shoulders, she inhaled and exhaled deeply, "I will tell you my answer."
It made him so nervous, that his heart beat fast. He gulped harder, "W-What?"
"I-I…"
"I?"
She bowed at him, "I'm sorry!" She faced him straight, "I cannot go out with you. It's not that I hate you or anything, in fact, I love you also but… That kind of love is only the definition of friends...that's all. I don't want to be mean to you. In fact, I've thought of this many times, but I believe it wasn't for this time. I'm so sorry. I wanted us to stay friends. I don't want to hurt you or anyone beside me. That's why, I—"
She was stopped when Toushiro pulled her close to him. He hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear, "It's okay... Also, thank you."
After that, he exited the washroom, leaving Satsuki with a worried look on her face. Toushiro went and dragged Isao out.
"Come on, Sougo! Kondo-san, let's go. We have work to do." Toushiro passed by Gintoki and murmured something, "Take care of her."
In the end, the Cabaret lost because of Otae's rude behavior. At the same, they made Satsuki drink sake, causing the bar to get wrecked. The Yorozuya was again broke and headed straight for home. Currently, Gintoki and Satsuki were at the river, resting in the bridge. With her eyes looking at a far distance, she sighed, "Man…"
"Oi. Satsuki. What happened between you and the tax robber?" Gintoki asked.
"I rejected him." Satsuki bluntly stated.
"Huh?" He couldn't believe what he just heard. Really? Satsuki rejected that tax robber?!
"I told you that I rejected him. Maybe, I was really harsh on him. Man, this is why I hate love! It's very complicated and sometimes there's someone getting hurt by it! Plus…" Satsuki rumbled.
"Plus?" Gintoki raised a brow.
"I was waiting for Shiro to come. We promised with each other that when we meet again… We will get married." Satsuki grinned at him.
"Eh?" It was all he could say. His jaw dropped at her words. Now, he made another rival; this time, Satsuki did have feelings for him. Was it over for him?
Satsuki chuckled at his expression, "What's with that expression?! Seriously, you really believe that joke. We didn't promise that, but I wouldn't really mind."
"Satsuki, what kind of guy do you like?" Gintoki asked.
"Huh? Let's see, someone who won't mind being with me, despite being dangerous. Also, someone I can rely on! Someone who will really accept me truly! But I guess, I haven't seen anyone there except Toushiro and Shiro. Come on, let's go. Let's deliver this meat to the Yorozuya." Satsuki smiled and the both of them went home.
Author's Note:
.SORRY.
.SORRY.
I'm sorry for not updating so fast! School is treating me hard! QAQ
Thank you for the support! I love you! Be a 'kawaii potato' like me and continue to read my story!