Chapter 38: Sudden surprise attack from the girl you like is damn bad to your heart

The morning sun shine over the whole Kabuki-Chou. Well, the old Yorozuya has returned ever since Satsuki agreed to stay with the them. The same blue-haired blonde woke up beside Gintoki few meters away. They may be sleeping in the same room but not beside each other. Her blue strands reflected upon the sun's light from the windows.

She arched her body up, her eyes gazing to the sleeping silver headed idiot who is snoring loudly. Seeing this side of him made her giggle a bit. Indeed, she is back to her home.

His large snot from his nose snapped out. This made him alarmed and woke up from his deep slumber.

This situation made Satsuki chuckled for a while, "You're funny…"

Gazing upon her scarlet orbs made him smile whole-heartedly, "You're really back, huh?"

"Of course… I'm back." She returned a radiant smile to him as she got up from her futon. Suddenly, Kagura slid the shoji door opened to their room dressed in her usual outfit.

"Stop flirting, uh-huh! We have a customer, geez!"

Shinpachi echoed as well, "I know you two are excited to meet each other again but we have work to do."

Satsuki smirked a little bit. Seeing this two made her feel warm and fuzzy since she really missed the Old gang, "Aren't the two of you too excited for work?" She teased them a little bit.

The both replied ecstatically, "Of course! Now that we're complete, we can start again."

"Alright, alright you two. Entertain the guest and we will change our clothes." Gintoki nonchalantly told them while folding his futon to get ready for the guest. Satsuki did fold her futon and change as well.

"What the heck are you doing here old granny?!" Gintoki ranted over the old lady in front of him.

"I'm not old, you bastard!" She retorted back when she heard about Gintoki calling her an old granny.

"Um. Who might be you?" Satsuki asked out of nowhere.

"Oh, a new member, Gintoki?" Upon seeing Satsuki, she couldn't help but feel glad towards Gintoki. Since she knew that all the stupid lazy idiot can do is to rant how things are boring and such. But she has this feeling that this girl did something to him.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Mizune. I'm a care-taker of a shrine."

Satsuki stuttered on how nice this woman, "N-Nice to meet you, I'm Satsuki! I just joined the Yorozuya."

"Did Gintoki did something to you?"

"Hey, old hag! Don't make it sound so malicious!" He rattled upon her remark and glanced upon the confused Satsuki. She's not following through the flow of the conversation. A smile just made its way to the old woman, "Maybe…?"

"What did you do to her, you bastard?!"

"Hey, Satsuki stop lying already!"

"Stop this commotion already and tell us the job.!" Shinpachi butted in the conversation since it's really taking too long. Mizune and Gintoki stopped bickering and returned to their respective seats.

"You see, I have some things to handle so I will leave the shrine. The problem is the new girl. She's a total klutz and can't handle the shrine at all. So, I want you to take good care of her and the shrine until I come back." Mizune explained to them her request.

"How long will you be gone?" Shinpachi asked.

All he can get is a sigh from the old lady, making him unstable from her response. She began to scratch the back of her head and made a reply, "I don't know there are some problems that I have to solve. Anyway, I'm entrusting the shrine to all of you. Take a good look on my business and if all else fails…" She paused for a while; inhaling some air, she glared intimately to the group, "I will kill you all!"

"Y-Yes!"

Finally, the conversation is over and all of them can now proceed to their respective jobs. When the Yorozuya arrived in the shrine, they witnessed Mizune bidding her farewell to the employees. Though a certain blonde caught their attention as she kept on weeping in front of Mizune.

"W-Why are you leaving?! Is it because I'm such a klutz? Don't leave!" The blonde tried to voice out her thoughts despite being emotional. Although the atmosphere died out when Mizune broke out and deadpanned, "Are you an idiot? I'm not leaving forever. I have to fix some problems regarding our shrine that's all."

"E-Eh, you're not leaving! Yey!" She cheered.

Mizune smiled for a while and announced something to the employees, "While I am gone, I hired some bastar—I mean…" She coughed. "The Odd jobs to take in charge in this shrine as well as taking care of this good for nothing brat."

The blonde pouted from the old lady's words. Marching upon her, she defended herself from her accusation, "E-Eh, hey, I'm not good for nothing! I-I can take care of the shrine by my—"But instead to defend herself she just showed to the whole people that she's such a clumsy brat since she stumbled head first on the ground.

"And I tell you, I cannot leave the shrine unless someone is taking care of it responsibly." She emphasized the last word and left.

All the employees left and proceeded to their jobs. As for the blonde, she quickly stood up from the awkward fall and welcomed the Yorozuya, "Good Morning! I am Ayase, nice to meet you! I will lead you to Mizune-san's room and discuss these ma— "Again she twisted her ankle and fall flat to the floor.

"This is not good at all." The Yorozuya thought while staring upon the clumsy brat.

"Um, actually, I have a request to you other than Mizune-san's request!" Ayase politely started the conversation between her and the Yorozuya. Apparently, they're in a vacant room; seating across each other.

"Well, we're fine with it but make sure to double the pay." Gintoki lazily demanded his 'wants' to her while picking his nose with his pinky finger. This act really gross her but hearing the, 'double the pay' part, made her felt unease, "E-Eh?! W-Well, wait! Come on, I'll be serving you with food and give you some treatment so there's no pay! Mizune will kill me if she heard this!"

"What the heck? That's part of the agreement with that old granny!" He retorted back.

"Mizune-san did not say that." Shinpachi came out of nowhere to remind the perm-samurai about the agreement.

"B-But Mizune-san said that you have to cover the expenses yourself!" She reprimanded back upon Gintoki.

"Damn that granny!"

"What's that request, anyway?" Satsuki jumped in the conversation to avoid the ruckus between the two.

"Hey, Satsu—" Gintoki was about to retort back again when suddenly Satsuki turned to him with angry remarks on her face, "Shut up, dumbass!"

All of them became silent when Satsuki hushed them down. It became eerily that it became uncomfortable. Satsuki glanced at Ayase; signaling her to proceed on her request.

"Make me a responsible girl before Mizune-san come back." She blurted out. Determination pulled her out from her comfort zone so is able make a request to her problem—admitting that she is a klutz.

"Okay, we accept it." Satsuki, without any hesitations, approved her request. Ayase is happy hearing her agreement but not with the Yorozuya's boss.

"What the hell are you thinking, Satsuki?" He began to wrestle with the blue-haired lad; trying to convince her not to take up the job because the pay would not be doubled.

"You don't have any money to buy expenses to fill us in, dumbass!" Satsuki tried to fight back as well to Gintoki.

"That's right, Gin-chan! We need food, you know, uh-huh! How will we live if we do not accept her request?!" Kagura also started to join the brawl within the two adults. Seeing their current situation, Shinpachi cannot help but stopped them from these crazy antics.

"Hey, stop it already! You're not some kind of idiot couple that is fighting for some financial crisis! Act civilize, idiots!" His straight man tricks began to kick him as he tried to separate the two from each other. "Though, I agree with Satsuki-san since we haven't accepted any jobs these days."

"Gin-chan, Satsuki-chan just came back! Do you want her to leave us again, uh-huh!?" Kagura's statement with Gintoki made him stopped from his scuffle with Satsuki. Her words strike within the samurai's mind, deciding to retreat his arms from the blue-haired lady. Sighing, he stood up from his place and left them quietly, "I don't care anymore. Just do what you want, amazon."

Satsuki returned the sigh. She also stood up from her sit; going over the garden outside the room. She started to talk with her back facing them, "Anyway, we accept it. But make sure to make our pay high even if just a tiny bit. Seeing you like that, I think you're just a novice and you just started early in working to this shrine. Prepare yourself later, I'll drive you crazy to become a responsible girl." With those words, she headed outside of the room.

Ayase is glad that her request got approved but the mood is not good for her to shout in glee. She knew that something is up within these people and it is also awkward hearing these private matters from them. She tried to approach them, "Um… Sorry if I am butting in but what happened between her and to that guy?"

Shinpachi began to apologize for what happened, "Oh, we're sorry for that ruckus and late introduction. I am Shimura Shinpachi and this is Kagura." He pointed at the vermillion-haired colored, who is frowning from the current situation, then resumed, "The blue-haired lady a while ago is Sakakibara Satsuki and the one she's arguing with is Sakata Gintoki."

"Shinpachi, I said something ridi—"Kagura was about to give her reaction when he halted her.

"Ayase-san, well, how do I put this…" Shinpachi paused for a moment as he tried to process all the thoughts in his minds and continued, "Gin-san and Satsuki-san has this complicated relationship. Recently, Satsuki-san has this huge problem that made her decided to leave the Yorozuya but we did not let her, of course. But ever since that, Gin-san tried not to harm her feelings as much as possible because if she leaves again, he will be the first one to be devastated about it."

Hearing his statement, Ayase couldn't help but be curious about one thing; if Gintoki likes Satsuki. Though she did not further question the two since she doesn't want to interfere to their business.

"Kagura-sama, maybe you should apologize to Gintoki-sama." Ayase tried to give out a piece of advice to the gloomy Yato as she stood up. She smiled at them before heading out of the room, "Please enjoy your stay."

Gintoki ruffled his hair. He did something ridiculous a while ago. But he cannot help but be desperate since he doesn't have any money to play the Pachinko. However, judging by what happened earlier, he couldn't help but worry about it. Kagura's words strike him hard and he cannot afford to lose her again.

"Maybe, I should apologize for not agreeing? What do I do? What if she leaves aga—"

A voice suddenly called out of him, out of nowhere, "What are you doing, Gintoki-sama?"

Her voice surprised him from his current position, yelping in response, "W-What!?"

"Well, I am concern about your mental being since you've been talking to yourself." Her eyes squinted, to check whether he is out of his mind.

"Aren't you happy that we will be doing this job for you, brat?!" Gintoki ranted over her. He hasn't forgotten about the issue a while ago; making him really pissed.

"Ah, Satsuki-sama." Ayase suddenly called out and pointed the unknowingly beautiful female behind him. Hearing his companion's name, he began to feel unease and began to glance behind him. However, Ayase just jokingly mentioned her name to keep him off guard. When he realized this, he began to pounce over her, "What the heck is with that!?"

Unexpectedly, the real Satsuki appeared in front of them; carrying enormous number of boxes in her arms. So, he dashed over her and helped her with his out-of-character attitude, to make up with his attitude with her a while ago.

"Satsuki-chan, I will help you with this!" He presented his self and carried half of the number of boxes.

The honorific '—chan' made Satsuki shiver in disgust when she heard it coming from Gintoki. She's not really used to him calling her like that. She wants to point out that kind of attitude to him but decided to shrug it off and walked out to her destination; leaving Ayase behind.

"Gintoki-sama, must be…? No way!"

The out-of-character attitude of Gintoki continued all over the day as he began to help Satsuki move out some of their necessities to the shrine since they'll be living here for days. This attitude of the Yorozuya boss bothered all of them since he was seen serving Satsuki rather than lazing off. For example, he kept that fake joyous smile crept in his features, did all the chores and stuff.

"What the hell happened to Gintoki? Calling me, 'Satsuki-chan' this and that." Satsuki walked over the streets; trying to get some fresh air from what Gintoki is doing to her.

"Ah, my balloon!"

She glanced over the balloon as it is stuck in a tall tree; seeing this, she knew that she should get that balloon. Crouching over the crying kid, she patted his head, "Do not worry, miss will get that balloon. So where is this balloon, you're talking about?"

The kid point at the highest branch where the balloon is stuck. Her eyes made its way to what the kid is pointing and saw that she included herself into a dangerous mission. Knowing that she is afraid of heights, she is afraid herself to climb the tree. She wanted to back out but the kid is already relying to her that much so she cannot let him down. Standing up, she stares upon the hideous tree in front of her.

"I-It's fine. I climbed a tree when I was in G-Gintoki's past…" She thought; trying to calm herself down. "But he is there and rescued me instantly! B-But… Oh gosh, if I continue to fret like this and keep on relying over him, I won't get over with my problem, geez."

She began to cling over the trunk of the tree and bit by bit grab its branches. She doesn't have to worry if she won't ever look down. Her hands were trembling as well as she began to crackle up some sweat, "Heights doesn't really suit me…" She thought as she made her way all throughout the branches. The rough skin of each branches made her skip a bit; afraid to fall. Finally, she caught sight of the balloon in front of her. As she was about to grasp the balloon within her reach, she did not notice that the branch her right arm is clinging is about to snap.

"Hey, miss! Th-The branch!" The kid called out to her. But she seemingly did not hear the warning of the kid.

"Ah geez, where did that blue-haired girl g—" Gintoki snapped out from his thoughts when he heard a kid screaming towards the tree. At first, he did not bother on meddling to other people's business but he quickly spotted a familiar figure in the tree. "S-Satsuki!?" He hurriedly headed over the spot where the kid is yelping. His eyes landed over Satsuki, trying to reach the balloon, unknowingly, not noticed that the branch is about to snap.

"Hey, Satsuki! Get down, now!" He shouted.

Her hand finally landed upon the string, as she smiled in glee but when hearing the voice of a familiar person, she quickly glances below to see Gintoki, "G-Gintoki?" She gave out a puzzled look—not noticing the branch snapped. Her feet slipped down to the tree and her body followed as well.

"M-Miss!"

"Hey, Satsuki!" Gintoki positioned his arms; ready to catch her in no time. She screamed all over the streets as she landed swiftly to Gintoki's arms slowly. But the impact made his legs lose his energy, sitting in the ground. His crimson eyes landed on her teary-eyed scarlet eyes as they both stared in awe. Blue locks continued to flow around the air; both trying to reminisce something that happened like this.

Suddenly, Satsuki snapped out from their moments as she tried to speak up, "Th-That surprise me…"

Gintoki finally let go of her from his arms—still thinking about what happened. She gave the kid the balloon and bid their farewell to each other. When she faced the man in front of her, she knew that she'll get scold for being stubborn.

"What the heck did you just do? Are you trying to kill yourself?!" Gintoki began his sermon to the woman for a few minutes until he ran out of words.

She cannot help but just laugh her gut out seeing his partner getting mad at her like that, "Finally, you've knocked out some sense already! You've been out-of-character throughout this chapter, you know."

"Damn right, amazon!"

"What the hell did you just say!?"

Both parties began to laugh at each other as they returned a smile to each other. Gintoki broke the ice and started to speak to her, "You know, I thought I made you angry. Well, I thought you'll leave the Yorozuya… again…" His last statement began to soften; avoiding his gaze upon her.

A smile made out its way to her features as she brought out a Pocky box out of nowhere and began munching the sticks, "Idiot, that's just our normal bicker. And I'm sorry for forcing my way to help that girl. I heard that you did not accepted any jobs when I'm gone so somehow I felt really disturbed." She offered the box to him, signaling him to get some. When he got a piece, and positioned it between his lips, Satsuki swiftly closed their distance to each other and grab a bite on the Pocky stick that is on his lips. It broke into half and she finally let go from each other—smiling at him. It revealed a surprised Gintoki as his cheeks began to turn red and eyes widened.

"W-What the heck did you do, Satsuki!?" He asked, trying to hide his embarrassment to her.

"W-Well, Ayase said that if I do this to you, you'll be better." She explained, starting to walk out.

He cannot believe what just happened and he swear to his self that he will kill the annoying blonde when he got to the shrine.

"Hey, Gin-chan. I'm sorry for what happened a while ago, uh-huh!" Kagura apologized as she tried to pin him down to the floor.

"Oh, welcome back, Gintoki-sama and Satsuki-sama." Ayase welcomed them with a large grin on her face. As soon as they got back in the shrine, she began to drag Satsuki and left.

"Damn, that woman!"

"So, did it work?" Ayase's eyes began to glimmer in glee while waiting for her response.

All she can respond is to nod at her question and in instant, she began to scream in delight and jumped back and forth. Her hands clamped over the other girl's hands, smiling at her, "Satsuki-sama, don't worry, I got this thing covered!"

Satsuki couldn't help but be confused to the weird actions of the shrine maiden in front of her. But she is grateful that Ayase gave that advice to her, though she was confused that Gintoki is that bashful to her actions.

"Well, I don't get why Gintoki is bashful with my—"She wasn't able to continue her statement when Ayase immediately interrupted her, "Oh really, then it is confirmed! Thank you Satsuki-sama!" With her greetings, she left the hallway, trying to find Gintoki. It left Satsuki confused to her actions but decided to shrug it off.

Ayase wandered all over the garden humming joyfully when she saw her prey resting in the wooden floor, staring at the stars. "Gintoki-sama!"

Gintoki's eyes wandered upon the person who called him but then squinted angrily to her since he is utterly pissed to the girl's advice to Satsuki. He called back, "Hey, damn girl, I'm going to speak with you!"

As soon as she heard him calling her back. She sprinted over him and pounce over him causing them to fall flat in the floor. Both parties began to grimace in pain but Ayase pinned him harshly in the ground, she let out a smirk on her features as she announced something to him, "I have decided!"

"That hurt, clumsy brat! What the hell do you mean? Let me sit, idiot!" He replied harshly.

"I am going to support you and Satsuki-sama!" She exclaimed, pinning him in the ground further.

"What?" He asked again, he may be heard something that he couldn't believe.

"I said that, I, Ayase, will support Gintoki-sama's love to Satsuki-sama! In other words, I'm going to be your love cupid." She stuck her tongue out while giving out a playful grin to him.

"What?! What the hell is that!?"

I am back from the dead! Thank you for the people who are still reading this fanfiction despite my lack of updates. I apologize that I kept you hanging for months already. But here is the latest chapter, I hope you'll like this. Reviews, favorites and follows are much appreciated! I really love to read your thoughts to this chapter so leave some. Sorry if some parts are OOC, I just came back and I felt like I forgot how to write again, hahaha!

Ayase is an OC to my other fanfiction which is, From Me to You, but it is currently being re-written. Well, she is paired with Toushiro in that fanfiction and I wanted to let you guys read the Yorozuya and Ayase's meeting before she meets the Shinsengumi. Thank you for reading!