NOTE:
Hey there!
Welcome to another chapter! Pull up a chair and get ready for the story. In the meantime, I posted a new story entitled "Alone" which is a short retelling of the end of the Be Forever Yorozuya movie, focusing on the plot of Gintoki from the future. Feel free to check it out.
Happy reading!
"Gintoki..." - Otose said with a more serious expression.
"Not now, old woman."
He was so tired that he could not hide his concern for the children. Gintoki had no plans to return home to rest, but rather to take care of the poison and his injuries before they got worse. He tried to climb the stairs ignoring the lady, being quickly pulled back.
"Now you do. Let me help."
Observing that face, the albino realized that now was not the best time to play tough in such a situation. He relented to his request, returning down the steps and being led to the bar. Otose grabbed a first aid box from under the counter while being watched. The albino was showing small signs of "blackouts" every time he blinked, it was a war with himself to stay awake.
She sat down on the other stool and came face to face with him. She began to tend the wounds from the cut on his face, keeping the place quiet. He did not express pain, even if she provoked it, as if he was already used to it.
"Give me your arm."
When he held him, things changed: he passed the alcohol swab over the wound and the albino could not hold on and let out a little moan of pain.
"Sorry, but you're just going to have to endure it."
"No problem."
"And so, you will not say what happened?"
He didn't answer her, instead turning his head to the side, avoiding eye contact. She realized that something was wrong when she saw his pained face. Again, she placed the cotton pad over the wound, causing him to grumble again.
"Where is Kagura? Hadn't you guys gone out to do a service?"
"She was captured..." - His expression changed to a mixture of anguish and concern, the tone of his voice gradually lowering until he muttered. - "Together with Shinpachi."
"And you intend to go in that state, don't you?"
"..." - He nodded his head staring into the lady's eyes. - "I don't have time to wait for my injuries to close."
"I see..." - He began to stitch up the wound. - "I won't stop you, but I want to ask you a favor."
"Say it."
"Ask for help. Your current condition won't hold much if you go alone." - She cut the line and stared at that injured arm. - "I don't want to lose you too..."
For a moment the albino was embarrassed by the lady's gaze, it touched his heart in an inexplicable way. It was the first time he felt that his life was important to someone. He was aware that if he went alone, with his right arm wounded, he would have little chance of returning alive. He sighed and agreed with Otose, who gave a slight relieved laugh.
When she finished closing all his wounds, she left him alone while she went to the kitchen. It was a matter of minutes before the albino blacked out right there, his face in direct contact with the wood of the counter. The poison had its effect similar to the one used during his escape in the old factory, but this time it was not so impactful, causing the albino to be able to rest.
"Although you don't deserve it, I have prepared some eggnog for you." - She said walking back to the bar with a bottle in hand. - "And don't complain about being out of alcohol-"
When she saw the scene, she forgot for a moment all the complaints she had to make, letting out an "oh" when she saw him more relaxed. A genuine smile appeared on her face as she placed the bottle on the counter and reached for a sheet to cover him, a typical mother-son relationship.
"That's going to give you a severe pain in your neck..." - he muttered, arranging the sheet on his body and leaving it alone.
-X-
Hijikata, now working together with Fumiko, began working Yoshiwara's cases while Yamazaki took over the cargo ship with other police officers. The fact that Fumiko, since being proclaimed leader, always took down reports made the investigation easier. He was impressed with her organization and reading of each case, even praising her.
"You write the reports very well."
"A-ah, thank you."
"Have you ever worked as a police officer before?"
"No, I've always wanted to be one..."
"And why didn't you try?"
"Well, since I was a child, I was brought here when Housen was still ruling, since then I have always worked at Hyakka." - She smiled. - "Although the positions are different, the function is the same, isn't it?"
"Apparently so."
"I never imagined that Tsukuyo-dono would choose me as the leader of the east patrol, so I try to dedicate myself with every detail."
"Ah, I see." - Hijikata went back over the reports. - "By the way, what happened to the amanto child you captured?"
"Tsukuyo is handling the case. She hasn't said anything about."
"I want to see where this is going to go..."
"Me too."
The two began a rereading of reports with evidence nailed to a map of the city, containing photos and evidence. One of the first reports about Yohalo's drug caught the young woman's attention, returning to a subject that had been kept in a drawer for a long time.
"Did you guys have an amantos division in the police force?"
"No, not since Shinsengumi took over the police."
"And before that?"
"I don't know, we were mere rednecks."
"Ah yes..." - She murmured thoughtfully. - "Is there by any chance anything about the old police?"
"Maybe you'll find something in the central library."
"Okay, I'll take a look."
She left him to start a new search. She knew there was something wrong with the description of the amanto responsible for doping the courtesan with the drug, a key word was missing to solve the riddle and achieve her goal. On the other hand, the policeman felt in the same place, with no new results or answers. It was very frustrating.
-X-
As she walked under the sun's rays of Yoshiwara with her kiseru, Tsukuyo felt a cool breeze whipping in a brisk manner, making her wary. Something, like an instinct or a chill, signaled to the blonde that she was still being watched by someone, so much so that she left a kunai in hand to react if attacked. She had never felt so vulnerable in Yoshiwara, causing nervousness and tension in her muscles.
She tried to ignore the situation, so much so that she hid in front of an alley waiting for the enemy to appear, which did not happen. Was she paranoid? Maybe. In the midst of her questioning, she noticed how weak she had become since she discovered her pregnancy and when she made her promise to Lucca, she no longer recognized herself as the leader of Hyakka. She sighed and tried again, returning to her original route and heading back to her house, where Hinowa was waiting for her lunch, still uncomfortable.
She arrived faster than her traditional one, slamming the door quickly. When Hinowa heard the noise, she quickly went to greet her, seeing that apprehensive face of hers with the back of her head resting on the wooden door. She tried to disguise it by clearing her throat and straightening her posture.
"Did something happen, Tsukuyo? You don't look well to me."
"Nothing." - She started walking. - "Where's Lucca?"
"Sleeping in the Seita room."
"Okay, I'll take a look at it."
"Tsukuyo..." - The blonde interrupted her walk when she heard Hinowa's tone of voice sound more concerned.
"Huh?"
"Is it really okay to leave him here?" - The black-haired girl avoided eye contact. - "I don't want to seem inconvenient, but he was working for the enemy and I'm afraid of what might happen."
"Don't worry Hinowa, I'll be watching him." – Tsukuyo walked back, making his footsteps echo on the wooden floor.
"Right..." - She murmured with a worried tone.
-X-
The albino opened his eyes slowly with dark circles under his eyes as he grumbled about the pain in his neck from his not very comfortable sleeping position. In the midst of his grumbling, he watched the sunlight colliding with the window glass that heralded the new day. As he stood up, the sheet slid under his body, falling directly to the floor.
As he crouched down to pick it up, he entered a small moment of reflection, which he remembered the scene of Otose holding his arm and muttering that phrase: 'I don't want to lose you too.', unintentionally he had made a promise that consisted of coming back alive and now it was too late to turn back. He scratched the back of his head and drank that eggnog, placing the sheet on the counter and leaving the bar towards Shinsengumi.
'It's alcohol free...'
Upon arriving there, the warm welcome from the Shinsengumi could not be missed, which Kondou spotted him first, waving and running toward him excitedly.
"Hey Yorozuya, what are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to the idiot vice commander."
"Toshi? Well, he's-"
"I'm right here." - He said standing behind the albino. - "Did you get hit by a truck or what?"
"Ha, how funny you are." - a wry smile.
In moments the albino was guided to a secluded room. It was a simple office, dominated by the sandy tone with an oriental footprint and a coffee table with a bottle of tea waiting to be served. When the policeman closed the door, all the noise outside faded away, making quietness dominate in a short interval of time.
"So? What did you want to talk to me about?" - He sat across from the albino.
"Maybe we need to postpone the invasion."
"Why? we barely possess any information about the enemy."
"I know, I know..." - Gintoki grumbled. - "But I can't risk waiting."
"What exactly is going on?"
"Shinpachi and Kagura have been captured."
"By whom?"
"An alien crows." - He stared into the policeman's eyes. - "Probably 'Rey' sent him."
"It makes more sense." - He sighed. - "And do you have any idea who and where we can find Rey?"
"I believe in the old factory. The key drug point is located there, possibly he will be there as well."
"And do you even know who you are?"
"No. I'm just inferring that it's that amanto-leader who was after me." - He continued to state. - "The information if it matches your description."
"We don't know if the information is true."
"But we need to take a chance!" - He slammed the table roughly, making the tea tray shudder. - "Please..."
It was the first and only time he had seen him begging something directly from him. Hijikata knew how important children were to the albino, and finding him in this situation made him uncomfortable to refuse.
"We will go tonight; I will separate troops to invade." - He crossed his arms seeing the albino's face slightly relieved. - "Until then, come up with a plan."
"Right."
-X-
Over the course of the past week, Tsukuyo had trouble sleeping, losing count of how many sleepless nights she had had, and of course this would cause her to get extremely tired later on. She had never been the type to take naps in the afternoon, but this time she made sure to take some extra time on her couch, trying to relax. Although it was uncomfortable, it was a little therapy for her exhausted mind, which she managed to put her mind in order in the silence of the place.
A prickle in her heart nagged at her: she missed her other half, it had been a while since they had a simple face-to-face chat like they used to, but it seemed that a feeling of guilt overwhelmed her for having walked away instead of telling the truth. Her eyes cried silently without shedding her tears, and her chest hurt. Was there still time? She asked herself all the time, and something answered her that yes, it would never be too late to tell the truth.
she lay on her back, watching the minutes go by slowly like the movie Titanic, her blond hair spilling over the pillow as she closed her eyes and entered a state of reflection before falling asleep, but was interrupted when she heard footsteps of a child, sitting on the floor beside her.
"Did something happen, Lucca?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to stay by your side." - Tsukuyo sat up when she noticed his saddened tone of voice.
"Are you feeling lonely?"
"Urrum." - He muttered. - "I feel like I'm not welcome here..."
This reminded the blonde of the previous conversation she had with Hinowa earlier. She knew that Hinowa would never treat someone badly, the most that could happen was that she would let it show on her face.
"Don't worry, Lucca." - She sighed. - "Regardless of your background, everyone is welcome here as a family."
"I... Am I part of that family?"
"Of course, you do!" - She smiled with a tender look. - "Now you are part of us, and I will be here together with you on this journey."
"Than-Thank you..." - He hugged her without a second thought, a unique feeling of welcome departing from both of them.
Several voices began to come from the entrance of the house, about three people would be talking while the door was being closed in the background, one was Hinowa's sweet voice, the other was a more childish voice, probably Seita, and the third voice was a bit rough and relaxed that unconsciously made her happy just listening.
'That voice...'
"Tsukuyo, we have visitors!" - Hinowa shouted from the entrance as she approached.
"Visitors?"
When she saw him enter the room, she couldn't disguise her happiness at seeing him, her face flushed and her heart beating stronger, she widened her eyes when she saw that usual relaxed face, for she finally saw Gintoki after so long. On the other hand, the albino also widened his eyes when he saw her in her new outfit that enhanced her face even more, to him Tsukuyo looked exuberant. Lucca noticed the difference in the behavior of both of them, beginning to start his questioning.
"Gintoki...?!" - Tsukuyo asked getting up. - "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to talk to you, do you have a minute?"
"Who is it, Mama?"
"Mama?" - She said clumsily.
"Mama?!" - Gintoki looked confused at Tsukuyo. - "What's this all about? Why the hell does there have an amanto child here?"
"Well... Is that I'm taking care of him." - She cleared his throat. - "Gintoki, this is Lucca."
"Wait a minute..." - He stared at the child's face for a few seconds reflexively.
"Hehe..." - The child laughed awkwardly.
"Come with me."
"Hey wait...!"
He didn't say anything or express himself in front of them, he just pulled her into the room, leaving them behind. Tsukuyo staggered with each step as she tried to free herself from his grasp. The sound of the bedroom door closing echoed through the house, the trio stared at each other, exchanging confused glances at the albino's attitude. Hinowa felt a bad feeling knocking at the door, something she couldn't explain. It was as if something was about to happen, and that everyone was prepared to face the consequences that were to come.
FINAL NOTE:
Hey reader, thanks for being here again. I hope you are enjoying the reading so far, because I intend to make a roller coaster of feelings from the next chapter onwards haha. You can't imagine how anxious I am to see the end of the story and where it will go, will it be good or bad? We won't know.
See you in the next chapters, until then!