NOTE
Oh, hello! Welcome to another chapter! Hehe
I just wanted to say that I totally changed the course of the story and now I don't know exactly how many chapters it will be, but I can guarantee that it will be more than 7! Questions or suggestions are always welcome!
Good reading! 😊
When opened his eyes, he noticed the wooden ceiling that looked like the one in his house. He turned his head slowly to the side, taking a closer look at the room: the walls were red and there was a closet with a white door, there was also a bucket beside it containing warm water and a damp cloth with bloodstains hanging on the edge; the place was so familiar that it didn't take long to realize... He was home.
Even with several scratches and wounds covered with bandages spread over his body, his bed was much softer than the casual one, which made him want to stay there.
'Has my bed always been comfortable like this?'
As he sat down, the albino could see the two members running towards him: the redhead's face dripping with tears and the worried face migrating to a relieved one from the bespectacled brunette, and in the background, it is possible to see a giant dog with its tongue out interspersed with barking while wagging its tail, appearing to be very happy.
He was still confused about how he had gotten there or how he was found, but his thoughts were interrupted when he felt a hug coming from the pair... It was a warm feeling. He just surrendered to that moment; he lowered his head as he heard the sobs coming from the children and also took the opportunity to hug them, mentally thanking them for having them in his life. But as he looked around again, he noticed the environment distorting and a rapid darkness taking over.
-X-
When he opened his eyes again, he was lying in a prison cell with his hands handcuffed behind him in a cold and dark place. He tried to get free and failed; the only thing he could feel was a strong pain all over his body, mainly in his back because of the 'final cut' made by the amanto, making him groan in pain. He still felt weak because of the poison in the drink, which also prevented him from making crude movements.
Realizing that it was useless to try to get loose, he accepted the fact staying in the fetal position in order to rest, whose objective was to recover some strength to get out of there as soon as possible. The silence made him reflect on his desires and mainly the desire to find them again and surrender in the arms of that woman, but he wasn't sure if he would be able to return alive... He was afraid.
"I want to go home..." - he mumbled in a wistful tone.
-X-
Tsukuyo had woken up very early and got ready to go to Yorozuya as he had arranged with the samurai. His bed seemed lonely without his presence, just as the night seemed empty and dull; without him the night was not complete.
As soon as she arrived at the place, she rang the doorbell and in a matter of seconds was answered by the boy with glasses who was wearing cook's 'accessories' and the girl in the background who stretched her neck leaning on the sofa just so she could see who was at the entrance door.
"Ah Tsukuyo-san, good morning!" - The boy greeted her.
"Tsuki!" - The girl screamed almost falling off the couch.
"Good morning!"
"Please come in." - again the four-eyed boy resumed speaking, giving passage for the blonde to pass. She watches the corners of the house looking for the albino and would notice him missing.
"Gintoki is not in?"
"He hasn't arrived yet."
"Ever since that idiot started running away in the early hours of the morning, he's been late all the time!" - grumbled the Chinese girl.
"Kagura-chan, you shouldn't expose Gin-san like that-"
"Maybe he's not late..." - Tsukuyo murmured worriedly.
"Oh? What do you mean?" - Both Shinpachi and Kagura stared at her in confusion, they noticed that there was something the blonde knew that they had no idea about. - "Tsukuyo-san, do you know something?"
"Maybe... Didn't he tell you where he was going?"
"He said he was going to do a delivery service." - Shinpachi replied.
"But he didn't say the location or did he say where he was going?"
"Absolutely nothing..."
"Um... That's very strange."
"Actually, Tsuki... He's always been like that." - The amanto girl said with a disappointed look on her face. - "He was never one to talk about where he was going..."
"But it still doesn't make sense, Gin-san would have said the location because it was a job..." - He sighed. - "In the meantime, we may be jumping the gun... He'll be back soon."
"So be it." - The blonde agreed.
-X-
He opened his eyes again and found himself surrounded by faces with mischievous smiles. His vision was very blurred, but he could easily recognize some of these familiar faces, not only present here but in the Joui war as well. He sat leaning on the wall as the amantos approached him, in which they made room for the leader again to pass.
"Well, well, are you awake yet?"
"You bastard... Where am I?"
"Does it matter now?" - Amanto walked toward him and raised his face with the tip of his claw. - "You won't be coming home anytime soon.... That is, if you do come back... Haha."
"You can be sure I'll be there soon." - The Samurai looked at him confidently.
"I don't think my 'little friends' will like seeing him loose around..." - The Chief Amanto was referring to the group behind him. Upon closer observation, he could see some scars, body parts missing or replaced by robotics, and spiteful looks. - "Now tell me... Where are the other three?"
"I have no idea." - He smiled. - "And even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you!"
"Oh? Is that right?" - He stood up and punched him hard in the face, causing him to fall to the floor. He was lifted up by his hair and pushed toward the wall; blood was slowly dripping from his nose. - "Don't challenge me boy..."
"I don't remember being challenging you." - He retorted. He knew he needed to get out of there, looking for openings around him, aware that he would have to leave with some scratches or even injuries, including a possible probability of being in a place he doesn't know. – "Hey... What the hell is going on here?"
"You know kid, I've always been trying to expand my business on this planet... But you already got in my way once, and now you won't get in my way again!"
"What kind of business are you up to?!" - The pale amanto stood up and started walking toward the exit.
"Bring 'it'." - The rooster-like amanto appeared carrying a suitcase. It knelt before its leader so that the leader could release the locks and show the product, in which one could see a syringe with an empty needle and some vials with a moss-green coloration. - "That's one of our products!"
'What the hell is that? Some kind of drug?' - he wondered observing the product.
"That is a unique herb, only found on the planet of Yohalo." - He put the liquid into the syringe as he spoke. - "They say it is highly addictive to humans..." - He turned to Albino. - "How about we test it?"
"No fucking way-!" - He squirmed to try to free himself from the amantos that held him tightly. The amanto-boss pulled the left sleeve of his yukata exposing his arm completely. - "Stop it! Don't do that!" - He screamed in agony and desperation.
"We've barely started and you're already scared? Pathetic haha." - The amanto applied to the crease of his arm. He could feel the liquid accessing his body and making him calmer and sleepier, lowering his guard as his eyes relaxed. As he let go of his arms, he quickly crashed to the ground without sketching any reaction, as if he were a mere corpse. - "Leave him there, it will be interesting to see the drug react."
The group of amantos backed out of the place, unlocking the door and exiting in single file, leaving one amanto standing to close the cage. When the last amanto moved to exit he was pushed hard causing him to crash into the wall, drawing the attention of both amantos seeing the conscious albino's face and his handcuffed hands forward.
"Why you-" - Said the amanto who was standing in the doorway before receiving a kick to his face. Albino ran to the opposite side that the group had gone facing the end of the hallway and a window. Footsteps approached him quickly, causing him to act without thinking. He threw himself against the window, falling directly into the river that connected the city.
-X-
"Here you go, Tsukuyo-san." - Shinpachi said, placing a red box under the table. - "It's not as good as Gin-san, but I swear we tried hard!" - Tsukuyo was slowly opening the box and observing the cake. It was simple, yet one could see the dedication of someone who was a 'first time confectioner'.
"Oh, it turned out wonderful." - She said happily. - "I'm sure Hinowa will love it..." - Kagura noticed the change in her features.
"Is there a problem, Tsuki?"
"In the end, he really didn't come, did he?" - she replied with a disappointed tone.
"Don't worry Tsukuyo-san, he should be here soon." - Again, the boy replied.
"You talking like that worries me more." - She stood up. - "Well in case he shows up, let me know."
"Right!" - Both replied as he watched her leave the apartment with the red box in her hands.
"See you soon!" - The door closed.
"Shinpachi... She seemed to know something we don't, didn't she?"
"It's likely..." - They both stared at the door for a while in absolute silence. - "I told her not to worry, but I'm the one who's worried..."
-X-
Albino sat down under the city's main bridge, catching his breath and resting. His body still ached from the fall, with small cuts made by the shards of glass, but he didn't hesitate to get up and try to walk towards Yorozuya, staggering to and for, when he wasn't dragging himself along the rough wall of the river, grazing his right arm.
A familiar figure was passing over the bridge: black hair, police uniform, with a cigarette in his mouth and a katana strapped to his waist. He spotted something walking along the riverbank, he soon deduced who it was. 'Yorozuya? What the hell is he doing there?'
"HEY, YOU BASTARD! THAT'S NO PLACE FOR DRUNKS TO BE!" - He shouted, however, was ignored by him, but greeted by someone else walking under the banks.
"He's over there! Get him!" - A nasal voice said.
"Amantos?!" - He said asserting his hands on the bridge railing.
"We finally found you, Gin-kun!" - Said the Leader with his hands behind his back, walking slowly.
"Gin-kun? I think I'm past that stage!" *(1) - joked.
"You are so playful... Too bad you didn't even grant us the opportunity to have fun... Why don't you come here and it will all work out?"
"Not even in my worst dreams!"
"Then we'll have to take him by force!" - He held out his arm. - "Go-" - His speech was interrupted when his arm fell to the ground.
"Chief?!" - The amantos said in surprise.
"Well, Well, you yell too much!" - Said the policeman walking in front of the samurai with his katana wielded in his hands. - "Do you guys realize what time it is?"
"Bastard! What have you done to our boss?!"
"Hijikata?" - Albino said.
"Get out! I'm in a bad mood." - Said the vice commander with a grim look
"Chief, what do we do now?"
"Back off."
"Oh?" - They answered confused.
"Looks like even the police are involved with this guy... Good to know." - Said the amanto-boss getting up and holding his bloodied arm. - "You will still pay me... And dearly!"
The group of amantos were retreating toward the factory, you could hear grumbling and complaining under the leader's decision. The two just watched.
"Tsc... What a mess." - Albino said as the policeman just let out the smoke from his cigarette. Again, he resumed his walk.
"Where are you going?"
"For Yorozuya."
"Handcuffed like that?"
"Whatever." - He grumbled. It was only a matter of time before Hijikata loosened his cuffs as he watched Gintoki's face with some wounds and soiled with blood equal to his stained and wet clothes.
"What exactly happened?"
"Nothing."
"What do you mean nothing? You were running away from those bastards!"
"Okay, I get it! That was just a bar fight. Now let me go!" - Again, he began another attempt to return home leaving him behind.
"Hey can it wait?! I'm still talking to you!" - He pulled him by the shoulder, causing the samurai to pull his hand away and turn to his side.
"I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT NOTHI-" His speech was interrupted with a feeling of nausea, putting his hand in front of his face and leaning on the floor. - "What the-!" - He muttered.
"Hey! What's going on with you?!" - He crouched down and supported her hand on his back as she watched him putting it all out.
"Just a little morning sickness." - The samurai stared at the policeman wiping his mouth.
"A morning sickness at night? Are you pregnant by any chance?!" - He paused for a moment to reflect. - "Tsc... Geez." - He scratched the back of his head and threw his cigarette on the ground, lighting another one soon after. Albino sat down. - "I will help you get to Yorozuya."
"I don't want to."
"It's not a matter of wanting to..." - She put his arm behind his neck lifting him up. - "... You should accept a little help once in a while."
"Right, right, Mr. Policeman." - I said in a wry tone, relaxing into his arms.
The walk was silent with the noise of thoughts coming from the policeman. He could see the deep look in the albino's eyes, his mind seemed to be somewhere else as a result of his effort not to erase it, whose every blink was deep and brought him back to reality for a few moments, his chest warmed more and more, releasing him from the tension and making him relax.
Hijikata realized that his body was weighing more and more as he walked, to the point where he had to take a break to both rest in a square near Yorozuya.
"Drink up." - He said offering a cold water he had just picked up from a drink machine. Gintoki quickly drank the water, splashing some of the rest on his face. He leaned back on the bench and began to stare at the moon as he tried to relax.
"...She's going to kill me." - He muttered.
"The Chinese girl?"
"Also, but I was referring to someone else."
"Your girlfriend?"
"My Girlfriend…? Maybe." - He sighed.
They continued straight ahead until they reached Yorozuya. The Samurai had taken a turn for the worse along the way, looking more exhausted and showing signs of severe headaches, hoping that he would arrive at the place soon. With the commute complete, Gintoki began to climb the stairs to the apartment while being watched. He stopped suddenly, catching his attention.
"Hey, did something happen-?" - Moreno questioned.
"Thanks for the help and... for the water. I owe you one." - He emitted a smile and continued to climb.
"He's definitely not well." - The policeman mentally stated as he retreated from the scene.
-X-
The blonde was standing on the same balcony where she had spent Christmas with him. She was smoking her Kiseru, watching the observing the movement in the city||, listening to her own thoughts, isolating herself from the people at the party. This caught Hinowa's attention, who quickly went to talk to her.
"Is there a problem, Tsukuyo?"
"Nothing much... I was just thinking."
"Thinking about Gin-san?"
"A-AH No-it's just that-" - Hinowa laughed as Tsukuyo stuttered.
"You two are together, aren't you?"
"How did you know?! I said that idiot to be careful!"
"Actually, I haven't seen him."
"W-What?!"
"I only deduced because you had one more pillow on your bed."
"It's true... I got so worried about that idiot escaping that I ended up forgetting the pillow on the bed." - She thought as she blushed. - "And I ended up turning myself in..." - Facepalm.
"Anyway, I am happy for you!"
"We're not really together... I was left to give him the answer."
"And why didn't you?"
"Maybe it's insecurity..." - Hinowa let out a slight laugh. - "Hey, what's so funny?!"
"You really were made for each other." - She stared at Tsukuyo. - "Only he is able to understand you perfectly... You both share similar personalities." - She turned on her back. - "Thank Yorozuya for the cake. It was very good." - She withdrew from the scene, leaving Tsukuyo alone again.
"I will say." - It went back to its initial stage.
-X-
As soon as he entered the house, he took off his shoes and crawled up the wall, going straight to his room. The sound of the door closing caught the attention of the Chinese girl watching TV and the bespectacled boy cooking.
"Finally, you have arrived Gin-san... We were worried!" - Said Shinpachi stretching his neck out of the kitchen as Kagura interrupted his path by getting in front of him.
"You bastard! Thanks to you we had to bake the cake for Tsuki all by ourselves e-"- Kagura noticed her injuries and her exhausted eyes, causing her to cut off in mid-sentence. - "Gin-chan... What happened to you?" - He leaned on her shoulder and shifted her to the side in order to make it to your bedroom door.
"I just... I need to rest... A little... Sorry." - He spoke slowly, almost losing his balance. He entered the bedroom and closed the door with a certain force, causing a half loud noise.
"Shinpachi... I wonder what happened to him...?"
"I have no idea, Kagura-chan... I really don't." - He replied in a melancholy tone watching the door in complete silence. A noise was heard from behind, causing them both to quickly open the door and find him lying on the floor. - "GIN-SAN!" - He shouted. That was not the effect of the drug but of the cut that had been badly closed, making the stitches open little by little as he moved.
"GIN-CHAN!" - His screams were the last words the albino could hear before he passed out completely.
*N/T (1): Kun is usually used for younger people (children or teenagers), but in Gin's case, he is too old to use this suffix, based on this context. xD
FINAL NOTES
Hey, thanks for reading this far! I apologize for the delay in posting this chapter and also for the size. :P
I was having a really bad mental block, but when I managed to unblock it, I lost track of time and words for this chapter. I hope the next ones won't be as long as this one! Haha.
Until the next chapter!