AUTHOR: Well, here is chapt-
(CRICKET NOISE)
AUTHOR: Damn it! I'm gonna get my insecticide.
HASEGAWA: Anyway, why did you call me for this segment?
AUTHOR: Gintoki is still on his trip. Anyway let's see some questions left in the reviews. Read it Hasegawa.
HASEGAWA: Let see. Here's one. Why Toushiko and not Kondo in chapter 6?
AUTHOR: Well Toushi can disguise as a hostess because he's less masculine than Kondo and if Kondo will do that…(Shivers)… And no matter what hostess disguise he does, he will be easily recognize. Next!
HASEGAWA: This was asked multiple times. How Kyubei fall for Gintoki?
AUTHOR: That. They should figure it out.
HASEGAWA: I can answer that. It was the part where the thief pu-.. (Author smashed Hasegawa.)
AUTHOR: We will continue this on the next chapter.
CHAPTER 14
"Got a minute?" asked Hijikata standing behind him. He's not in uniform but in his navy blue kimono. He knows that he is totally pissed off this day and he has to time for arguing with the mayo freak. He rubbed the back of his head in an irritated manner and faces him. "If it's about the mayo kingdom or the bombing faction, then no," he said.
"It's about Kuraba," he replied.
The soft wind blows soundly followed by a rustling noise from the trees. Another trouble again? "I'm not interested. Gimme a break," he demanded as he turned around and walked away.
But what Hijikata is going to say next will surely change his mind. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it and puff out a smoke from his mouth. "Really? Even Otose's bar was trashed last night?"
The sound of his footsteps stopped and the wind blows once again (Sure it's windy). His hearts starts beating fast upon hearing that. This is something not to be ignored. Who could ever do this stuff? It's clear to himself that it has something to do with their actions at Yoshiwara which reminds him of what Katsura said to him yesterday. He didn't need to ask 'what' because he heard it loud and clear.
"Where is she?" He asked lowly, maintaining his character.
"She is safe. She's in our headquarters. Thanks to the robot waitress of hers; she puts the two suspects, who are the only leads, in a coma, now we have to wait for them to gain consciousness," he replied. "At least she saved her," he connected. He knows that he should have told it earlier, but where on Earth he could be that time?
"Let's go," demanded Gintoki. Kicking the assh*le responsible for this is the only thing in his mind.
"I would like to come but where are we going you moron, I'm sure you have no idea where to go," he said with sarcasm.
"We can go to the abandoned Yoshiwara part where we met Kuraba and-"
"That' too late," interrupted Hijikata. "The Shinsengumi is already there is absolutely no way we can get there."
"Aren't you a Shinsengumi?"
"Yeah. And I probably should join their investigation instead of wasting my time with you. But Kondo was upset yesterday so he got me suspended for two weeks. He doesn't allow me to join and investigate," he replied.
"So do you have any plans mayo-," he asked.
"Well, we can go to main Yoshiwara and asked some witnesses mayo-" he replied not knowing he's already been teased.
"That will probably do mayo-" he supported as they walked to Yoshiwara.
"I'm sure Shinsen…-" now he realized it. "Would you stop saying mayo you dumbass sugar freak!" he shouted. "Anyway, let's go."
As they walked he told Gintoki that Kagura and Shinpachi were not involved or harmed which is a relief for him.
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He rubbed his eyes and put on the glasses. He cleaned his room before leaving it. The room was well lit which tells him that he woke up late.
"Today is a brand new day," he thought "And I'm pretty sure this is not a dream."
With full of energy and enthusiasm, he walked straight to the door and opened it. He went to the dojo and there he saw his cute but monstrous sister looking at him with a sweet smile.
"ohayo gosaimasu Shinchan," her lovely pleasant voice pleased his day.
"ohayo gosaimasu sis. What's for-"
"Otaesan I can I use your bathroom!" A loud but not annoying voice of a girl rang from the garden outside. It is surely not Kondo because he will under the floor or above the ceiling. He quickly turned his gaze from the entrance where the voice is the closest and his eyes just suddenly filled with veins around the pupils. His Jaw dropped with a small grunt.
There is a beautiful girl outside. She has black smooth hair in two pigtails and violet kimono which reveals her beautiful legs. Her white socks added to her cuteness. Her eye (not eyes) and Shinpachi's meet in an instant but she quickly looked away in the cutest and innocent way and softly greeted "Ohayo gosaimasu, Shinpachi,"
"Whoa! Who's this beautiful woman? What is she doing here with my sis? Oh god, I'm attracted to her," he thought, nostrils smoking with heavy breathing and sweating head. But something is wrong with this picture. "Wait a minute. Eyepatch? Petite?" It took him 15 seconds to process the entire thing.
"EEEEEHHHHHHH!" He shouted making the birds fly away from the trees nearby.
"Shinchan, be good to our guest. It's not the proper way of response, Neh? Kyuchan," she said calmly, patting his shoulder.
"Kyuubeiii!?" he shouted with a high pitch voice. "ARE YOU SERIOUS!? THIS IS NOT THE KYUBEI I KNOW! WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE! I JUST TOOK A DAY-OFF AND EVERYTHING J-J-JUST…" His voice is trembling in horror, unable to ask or say anything. Otae knew it will come to this so nayway, she 's in the mood to explain everything.
"Calm down Shinchan. Let me explain this to you thoroughly," she said comforting his little brother. She took a deep breath and looked at him.
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"She fell for Ginsan."
"WHAT THE HELLLL!" He screamed, holding his head on the sides that ruined his hair a little.
So after all this time, the whole thing from the market until now is undeniably a reality and not a horrible nightmare. He hopes that Kagura knows about this.
"This is absurd. There's gotta be a big reason for this. But what? Oh please god, give me a sign that I am not crazy," he thought. Then a paper slowly landed on the top of his head which came out of nowhere. He took it and read it. "YOU ARE NOT CRAZY, JUST A DUMBASS. – god."
He knew it. It was so unacceptable in his brain. For some reason he felt very weak and landed his palms on the floor. It was depressing.
"Fuck this man, this is stupid," he kept repeating this words in his mind. That time, he feels like getting swallowed by a big black hole or like sinking into a deep ocean of death. But then he felt someone just touched his hand. A soft and warm feeling he felt before.
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YAMAZAKI: Why did Shinpachi felt depressed after realizing the real thing?
OKITA: Maybe his brain is too weak for a sudden twist.
KONDO: Maybe he doesn't want Kyubei to be that way.
HIJIKATA: Or maybe he got these feelings for her a long time ago but he didn't expect that she has someone in her heart. He felt like a total loser and now regretting that he never confessed to her sooner because he thought that she will reject him.
(The three looking at Hijikata with deadpanned eyes)
HIJIKATA: W-what? Did I say something that offended you?
OKITA: That is so specific… And creepy for you to say.
(AUTHOR ENTERS THE ROOM WITH A BAG OF Mr. CHIPS)
AUTHOR: Hey guys what's up? What are doing here? This chapter is not done yet. Cut this segment.
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The Shinsengumi headquarters is quite peaceful than any normal day. No one is having training in the yard it is because most of them are patrolling and the others are investigating the drug syndicate so only a few including the commander is in the headquarters right now, protecting Otose.
"I don't get it after all, why do I have to stay in your filthy headquarters? I got things to do," she let out a smoke and looks at him once more. She felt very uncomfortable of doing nothing and now she wanted to go back and clean the mess in the bar.
The room is empty and was the same room where he talked to Hijikata. They are both sitting facing each other, with his sword on his side and he too doesn't feel comfortable with it but it's a responsibility.
"I'm very sorry Otose but we really need to protect you from those criminals who tried to assault you," he tried talking nicely.
She took another and puffs out a smoke once more. "I don't get it. They are as harmless as a corpse now, how can they ever hurt me? "
"No no. you don't understand ma'am. There is someone behind it and there is a big chance that they or he will send another thug-"
"Okay I get it," she interrupted. There's nothing she can do about, it's for her own good anyway. She can't believe that that free loader will put her into trouble. But she never regretted it. Not once.
"You can't put the others to safe if you are putting yourself into trouble," she thought.
"Then I have one request for you young man," she said, breaking the silence. "Keep an eye on Tama-san also."
"Of course," he replied. He just made his promise like he always do. "We'll do our best."
She noticed that Kagura is not around so she didn't hesitate to ask because she a little worried for the young girl.
"As I can remember, Okita told me that he will be in the park with her," he said. He's actually right. They are at park; destroying it with the kind of interaction they called 'playing'.
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"Say Hijikata, you don't mind if I ask you something? Is it really necessary? I mean we could just walk by ourselves there and do it normally," he asked keeping his voice down.
They reached Yoshiwara and used the elevator to go down the place instead of the stairs.
"Shut up! I told you before that don't call me by name even though there are only two of us here in the elevator. Call me… TOUSHIKO!" he shouted to his face. "By the way, nice make-up, Paako," he said softly.
"Stop making stupid non-sense compliments! I feel uncomfortable doing this with you and this kimono is kinda itchy," he complained as he started scratching his back again and again.
"You should be thankful that I bought that kimono to you," he replied. "It almost cost me a month salary,"
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"DING!" the elevator just reached the bottom which is the Yoshiwara. There are no dazzling lights and drunkards in the streets because it's noon and it is just a normal looking town where most of the people are busy. They stepped out and 'TADA!' the thick make up, expensive looking kimonos and fake hair extensions are back!
"Okay, just act normal. And whatever you do, don't-"
"Hold it right there!" three Hyakkas are already pointing their kunai on the back of their heads."Who are you and what are you doing here?" asked one them.
They slowly turned around and face them, giving them a silly forced smile as a reply.
"S-Sakata Gintoki…" they all murmured, recognizing him and Toushiko but they don't know his name, at least they now he's a cop.
"Shh!" he gestured to be quiet." Be quiet, we are undercover," he demanded, keeping down his voice.
"But why?"
"Long story. Anyway, is Hinowa there? I need to ask permissions."
The Hyakkas were puzzled.
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She tried to enjoy herself looking at her beautiful garden with flowers all in bloom but she fined it hard to forget the things she just heard this morning from Seita and Tsukuyo. Most of them aren't really positive.
"Excuse me, is anybody home!" he called out from inside her house. She already knew who it was and she quickly rolled the wheel and went inside. She wasn't expecting him but he really wanna have to talk with him. Finally, they've met.
"Gin-…san?" she was quite surprised with their get-up. "Hijikata?"
"Ohayo Hinowa. Sorry for barging the house without permission," he apologized, though Gintoki is the one who barge in first.
"it's okay. Is there anything I can do?" she asked without asking why they are dressed like that. "Well, we don't want to alert anyone so we are here to ask for permission to make undercover
Investigation, if it is okay with you," he said politely though this is not his character.
"Sorry but I think I left the front door open. I'll just close it," Gintoki rudely interrupted as he headed to the front door. He turned left. There, he can see that he really forgot to close the door. But before he can grab the door, someone unexpectedly arrived.
"Excuse me Hinowa but I think I forgot something in your room," she shouted, while removing her footwear. She lifted her face and the first thing she saw was his eyes, meeting hers.
END
AUTHOR: Well, that's 14.
SHINPACHI: *Crying*
AUTHOR: Okay. What?
SHINPACHI: Finally, I got a good role in this story.
HASEGAWA: But I still don't get it Author. Why Shinpachi fell so depressed on something that has nothing to do with him?
AUTHOR: I haven't planned that. What could be a good reason?
HASEGAWA: Anyway thanks for the continuous support. We will do the Q&A on the next chapter.