NOTE:
Hi, how nice to see you again! Welcome to another chapter of Stay with me. Happy reading and keep your posture.
"An ambush to capture you?" - Hijikata questioned him.
"You got it." - Said the raven unlocking his gun and pointing it at the policeman. - "I didn't realize I'd run into you so soon, Shiroyasha."
"What do you want, you bastard?" - The albino asked bluntly, with a spiteful look on his face.
"I would say revenge, but that's silly."
"Then what?"
"Maybe play on the same side of the coin." - Said the amanto grinning mischievously. - "You took everything from us and we took it from you, fair enough, no? Haha."
"Not a bit." - He joked. - "Where's Shinpachi and Kagura?"
"Sorry to inform you, kid, but I can't answer your question."
"Don't play with me, if you dare touch them..."
"Shiroyasha... You know very well that I have no plans for your petty subordinates. But I have other plans for you."
"Plans for me?"
"You know... There were rumors during the Joui war about a ruthless samurai who spread fear wherever he went, his name echoed in the midst of the battlefields and everyone who saw him is no longer with us today." - He said seriously. - "I have already underestimated you a lot. You are strong, but you prefer to erase your past self in order to protect the people around you, like a street dog that was fed by a stranger."
"Where are you going with this?"
"I'll get straight to the point, after all we have no time to waste." - He lowered his gun. The policeman stepped back close to the pair. - "Through reliable sources I have learned that you are after 'Rey'."
"So what?"
"Funny, because Rey has been dead for over 10 years now."
"Dead?!" - Fumiko stated.
"Exactly. Let's say a certain 'white demon' killed him." - Faced Gintoki.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I will refresh your memory." - He lit a cigar. - "Those were cloudy days on the battlefield, every note was bathed in Amanto blood, and his sword claimed the lives of many. Even Amanto children, forced to fight, did not escape his bloody path."
"You are wrong."
"I know very well what I'm talking about, and so do you." - He stated brutally. - "Rey was one of the children forced to fight in the invasion. At least that's what we thought." - It said in a chaotic tone. - "He was leading a small rebellion to get the children out of the middle of the war, but because he was just a mere Khaneorian slave*(1) needing more power. There was no one he could trust for his crazy plan, so he turned to somewhere on this planet, but it seems he and the children were killed on the way... By you."
"..." - The albino avoided eye contact.
"Do the agonized screams of children still echo in your soul?"
"Shut up..."
"Is that true, Yorozuya?" - The policeman questioned him in surprise.
"Yes. At the time I just saw them as ruthless creatures driven by carnage, we didn't have enough knowledge about the races, so we didn't care if they were children or adults... In the middle of the war field, everyone is your enemy, without exception." - He declared. - "I was blinded by hatred and thirsty for the blood of everyone who took the lives of innocents, but that is no justification for what I did."
"Interesting, King of Chaos." - Karasu cheered wryly. - "You have admitted your sins, but what now? This will not bring any of the lives taken by your hands back."
"I know. Whatever I do I cannot redeem myself."
"Redeem... such a noble word and so complex. Too bad it doesn't work for you Shiroyasha. There is no redemption for those who have caused such pain and suffering, but I recognize your efforts to be a good boy. You are slowly walking a new path and putting down new roots with face and courage, and that is why I consider you as an interesting character. Maybe I'm curious to see where this is going."
"Are you thinking of letting us go?" - Fumiko questioned confused by the situation.
"As I said, you are not of interest to me. But he..." - He drew his gun again, now pointing it at the ex-samurai. - "Worth a fortune."
"For whom?" - The albino questioned.
"That's confidential. Let's say it's someone's resources and interests obscured."
"So, you're a mercenary?"
"If you want to call it that, but I prefer to consider myself an opportunistic informant."
"Wait a minute... Are you just an informant with these skills?" - Hijikata questioned.
"These days, indeed. Ten years ago, even before the Amantos invaded the land, I was part of the SIA."
"SIA?!"
"It's a space research agency. Back then I was just a qualified spy who lived in bars with Jazz or Blues having a glass of drink after a tiring day at work." - He expressed a little nostalgia. - "It was a good place there before it became an ocean of blackmail, betrayal and conspiracies."
"So, you became an informant for an alien organization? How pathetic." - Hijikata asserted.
"Pathetic? Maybe I need it. But my life changed tune when I no longer belonged to SIA. Now I'm just an observer selling information to those who can pay the right price."
"And what is your price now? Capture me as a trophy?"
"Exactly, I'm just doing my own dirty work." - He ironized.
The crow shot towards the albino who dodged by throwing himself to the ground. Fumiko and Hijikata used the opportunity to counterattack him, which Fumiko threw some kunais aiming at his legs, but Karasu only moved quickly, managing to dodge the sharp projectiles. Meanwhile, Hijikata tried to make a cut on his back, but the cloak the crow used was difficult for his sword to penetrate, leaving him surprised.
Gintoki seized the moment to strike with a direct hit using his wooden Bokuto, which was blocked by the hook-foil on the crow's right arm. The ex-samurai felt the impact crack the bokuto slightly and shudder his injured arm, but did not give up continuing the attack. Fumiko tried a new attack, now aiming for Karasu's torso and face. The same pushed the albino back and almost dodged the attack masterfully if not for two kunais that hit him grazed, making him bleed.
"You're stronger than I thought, miss." - He flirted.
"I'm sorry, but guys like you don't appeal to me."
"Haha, I figured."
In the midst of this little dialog, Karasu exchanges direct blows with Fumiko, using her small dagger. The crow was surprised by Fumiko's quick and calculated blows, because unlike the others she did not have a pattern to attack, adapting to each movement and taking advantage of her agility.
As the battle raged on the upper floor, Sougo and Kondou attacked the large group of amantos, but they were already showing signs of fatigue, such as panting, fatigue and sweat dripping down their faces. In turn, there were a few Amantos lying on the ground in relation to the total number, who attacked repeatedly. Sougo was making direct attacks on vital points, knocking them down with a single cut, while Kondou was making slower attacks, due to exhaustion.
"Kondou-san, go after those two. You are in no condition to fight."
"And you?"
"I know how to turn around. I will hold them until you arrive."
"Sougo..."
"Go soon."
At first Kondou hesitated for a moment, however as she put herself in his shoes and understood his determination. With a slight nod, he set off towards the lower floors, calling out their names. It was an eerie feeling seeing the last empty corridor. He sighed and shouted again, being answered in sequence.
"That voice is from..." - The young brunette with glasses whispered. - "... Kondou-san?!"
"Yo Shinpachi-kun!" - He said in an encouraging tone. - "I almost can't find you guys."
"Finally, you arrived..."
"How are you guys doing?" - I said trying to find a way to open the bars.
"I'm fine. Kagura-chan though..."
When Kondou caught sight of that pale face of the redhead, he stared at a flushed face glistening with sweat. Visibly she was still under the effects of the dart, just like Gintoki was for the first time. She got up with great difficulty and only didn't fall because the brunette held her at the right moment while Kondou tried to break the lock with a piece of stone fallen on the floor.
"Where is he...?" - Kagura questioned. - "Where's that idiot Gin-chan?"
"Upstairs." - Kondou answered her, finally breaking the lock.
"And why isn't he here?"
"..." - The policeman was at a loss to answer, preserving a short silence. - "I don't know."
"So that's how it's going to be... I understand."
"Kagura-chan..."
"Let's leave soon, I can't stand to be here any longer."
"Don't be hasty, we are surrounded." - He stated opening the padlock. - "Shinpachi-kun, can you fight?"
"Ah? Yes, but I'm unarmed-" - His speech was interrupted when Kondou threw his katana at him, causing the brunette to be surprised.
"Use it to defend yourself. I will take care of the Chinese girl."
The gorilla cop picked up the redhead placing her on his back. He ran towards Sougo, who to his non-surprise, he was still standing. The number of fallen amantos had changed drastically, which caused strangeness in the eyes of the newly formed trio. Shinpachi drew his katana and took the initiative to join Sougo in facing them.
What no one expected was that a new big "wave" of amantos would appear behind. Unlike the others, these ones looked more serious and appeared to be of the same race as the previous ones.
"Oh, looks like we found more small fish here." - Said a nasal voice throwing the Hyakka duo to the ground.
"Hyakka's here too?!" - Shinpachi said.
"Yes." - Gorilla stated fearfully. - "This is turning into a big problem..."
The scene returned to the upper floor, where the 4 presents in the place were euphoric, but no one showed signs of giving up. Karasu knocked Hijikata to the ground with his hook-scythe while driving his dagger into Fumiko's shoulder. Gintoki stood up, his right arm throbbing in pain, pointing his bokuto at Karasu. The two advanced towards each other, which the crow hit his torso sideways, throwing him to the left and causing him to crash, hard, into the metal wall. He drew his pistol and pointed it at the bloodied albino.
"It's over for you." - He unlocked his gun.
Those were his last words before another small group burst into the main container. Among them were figures familiar to both Gintoki and Hijikata; it was the same group and the same "boss" who had captured Gintoki that late afternoon.
"Looks like it's not over yet." - Said a thick, nasal voice of the chief.
"Reinforcements?!" - Fumiko questioned.
"Is it that hard, you damned crow?" - The albino sneered.
"Don't be an idiot. I don't work for these guys."
"W-What?!" - He showed surprise.
"As I said, I work for who you call 'Rey'."
"So, this guy..." - Hijikata said. - "... Not the one we were looking for?"
"Exactly." - The raven stated. - "What are you doing here, Damian?"
"I came for the copper and found the silver, haha." - The amanto-leader said. - "I didn't imagine I'd find Yami Karasu and Shiroyasha together."
"Do you know each other?!" - The albino resumed questioning.
"And how." - Damian stated. - "Let's just say that Karasu and I were once great friends. Now, he's nothing but a coward who abandoned us before the invasion of this planet thanks to a woman."
"Larisse had nothing to do with that story."
"But it was part of it." - I said in sequence. - "We all know she changed you. I wonder if she's proud of your new job, Karasu."
"Shut up."
"Oh, she must be stirring in her coffin seeing what her husband has become."
"What are you implying?"
"I just thought she had turned you into a mere coward, but apparently..."
"Enough, Damian. Your melody is rotten."
"I know you only took this job because you wanted to help him get back at his son. That's why you're so sensitive."
"..."
"But that's water under the bridge. How about we change the focus? Look at our dearest Shiroyasha, a veritable pot of gold... or rather silver haha."
"I don't need your sarcastic comments." - Gintoki stated.
"That's a shame." - He ironized. - "Capture the silver-haired Boy and get rid of the rest."
Damian's 'subordinates' advanced towards the quartet. The cramped environment only made matters worse, as Fumiko struggled to keep her distance from her targets, as did Hijikata, who attacked with lower blows.
In one of the attacks towards Karasu, he managed to defend himself, but another advanced towards him. The attack was not accurate because of the albino who entered in front of him, defending him with his cracked bokuto, which broke in half with such force.
"Oh, I didn't imagine I'd be protecting an enemy."
"I just don't want to get caught by that guy."
"That's the kind of solo I like to hear next to me, haha." - He joked. - "Take this, it might be useful." - Glancing down at his hand, Karasu had handed him the red dagger he wore. - "Let's make a deal, a peace treaty until we get out of this damn place."
"Right."
Gintoki didn't hesitate to agree to the deal, even though he knew he would be captured soon after, as there were no other escape options. Karasu attacked them with his hook while Gintoki protected his back, Fumiko managed to throw some of her kunais from the table, neutralizing some nearby enemies, Hijikata made quick blows that also neutralized his enemies. Through a gap opened by Karasu, using his paralyzing darts, the quartet managed to move to the floor below which allowed better mobility.
When they realized it, both groups met on the first floor, integrating into a single group. Their gazes crossed, creating a visual communication, which everyone already knew what needed to be done. The wound on the albino's arm caught Shinpachi's attention, leaving him agonized watching him fight with the rest of his strength.
"What do we do now, Yorozuya?" - Kondou questioned.
"Fall back. We've already managed to recover Shinpachi and Kagura, that place is no longer of interest to us."
No one challenged him on his decision. Faced with such a situation, everyone saw no reason to keep up the battle in the factory anymore, since the objective had already been completed. Their focus was on the amantos who were in the path of the main door, making quick strikes just like before. Sougo and Hijikata defended their backs while Karasu prevented long range attacks with his hook. It was a long battle until they made it through the main door.
As soon as they were illuminated by the moonlight, they could see the members who had been tending the rear lying on the ground bloodied, a painful scene to behold, leaving them all distressed. Unfortunately, the bodies were left there to allow the group to escape with a small silent farewell in a form of respect. As the mission came to a close, everyone was aware of new challenges that lay ahead, beginning a quest to solve their problems.
Khaneorian: A fictional race of Amantos (not in the original work). They are aliens from the planet of Khane.
FINAL NOTE:
Hey reader, thanks for your patience with this chapter! I apologize thousands and billions of times for the delay of this chapter, because I'm going through the "no matter what I do, it doesn't look good at all!" syndrome. I've reworked and reread this chapter countless times and it still didn't please me enough to post, but (I think) maybe me and my subconscious came to an agreement to finally post. In the meantime, my notebook gave a problem in the hinge and ended up affecting the flat cable, which unfortunately is giving green screen * tears of despair *, I hope this problem will be solved soon.
Anyway, sorry for the mini text I wrote here, but I felt the need to leave explanations for my temporary disappearance.
That's it, good to-do's and see you in the next chapter!