#also his talk with nobume??

[wordswhisperinthedark]

the way you can see oboro's connection and feelings towards shoyou in courtesan of a nation once you already know their story

[suchine-toki]

Top 10 Gintaka moments

(Arranged chronologically because it was too difficult to choose. Spoilers ahead.)

1. Takasugi's laugh

After many encounters challenging the dojo, Gintoki sees Takasugi laugh for the first time, which becomes a core memory of his, a symbol of how things used to be and what he wants to preserve (ch. 517).

2. The promise

Surrounded by enemies, Takasugi asks Gintoki why he decided to join the war, to which Gintoki replies that, like him, it was not for a noble cause. At this, Takasugi recognizes that the two are good-for-nothing warriors, but asks Gintoki to take care of their sensei in case he dies. Likewise, Gintoki asks Takasugi to stay alive (ch. 516).

3. Gintoki's tears

Right after their sensei's death, Takasugi furiously runs towards Gintoki until, for a split second, he sees him crying. This becomes the last thing he saw with his left eye, a core memory that reminds him of the pain and grief they experienced (ch. 520).

4. Reunion at the festival

After 10 years of not seeing each other, Takasugi sneaks up behind Gintoki and threatens him with his sword, commenting on how easy it was and that he has become weak. He also tells him about his plan to kill the Shogun, claiming that within him there is a black beast that seeks revenge. At the same time, he confronts Gintoki for looking away from the past, making him unable to understand his feelings. To this, Gintoki responds that it's a shame that he underestimated him, which can be read in both a physical and emotional sense. It's assumed that they separate without another word (chs. 30-31).

5. They were the same

During a conversation with Nobume, Oboro asks her if Gintoki and Takasugi look like their sensei, to which she answers no, that the true resemblance was between them, since both had eyes full of sadness. As she says that, Gintoki and Takasugi can be seen passing each other, but only the former turns around to check that the latter is gone. It's worth mentioning that Gintoki warned Takasugi to be careful if he saw him walking down the street in chapter 97, but in the end he decided to not do anything (ch. 398).

6. Confession and realization

After their fight, with both of them on the floor, tired and full of injuries, Takasugi opens up to Gintoki about his suffering. He confesses to him that his face was the last thing he saw before losing his left eye, how devastating it was to see him cry, and the enormous survivor's guilt he feels, because he understands how much Gintoki loved Shouyo. To this, Gintoki responds that he didn't choose him, but simply knew what was important to theirsensei, thus lifting the burden from Takasugi's shoulders. Not only that, but Gintoki also confesses that, despite everything, he continues to see him as a fellow disciple of the Shouka Sonjuku and a comrade, whose soul he will protect (ch. 520).

7. Sword exchange

After a long coma, Takasugi awakens in Rakuyo and throws his sword to save Bansai. Likewise, Gintoki launches his bokuto to save Shinpachi, leaving them both unarmed. This is when they decide to take each other's sword and protect what is important to the other, reinforcing the message that a sword is made to protect the soul, and on other occasions that it even embodies it. Afterwards, they pass through hordes of enemies in order to see each other again, defending the other from an imminent attack and retrieving their weapon while locking eyes and making snarky remarks (ch. 573).

8. Pep talk

While everyone on Earth seems defeated, Gintoki hears a familiar voice over the radio. Hundreds of kilometers, far up in space, Takasugi tells him that they have everything under control and encourages him to continue fighting. Likewise, Gintoki assures him that on his side they haven't lost yet, and playfully encourages him, asking if he has already been reduced to junk. Despite being injured, Takasugi tells him to be ready when he comes for him, to which Gintoki smiles (ch. 650).

9. Let's rescue sensei

The greatest tragedy in Takasugi's life is not only the death of his teacher, but also that Gintoki had to be the one to kill him. Aware that he has little left to live, he admits that now he can be a little more honest with what he really wants to do. After fighting Gintoki as a way to punish himself, he's now able to recognize that he wishes to fight alongside him, while also wanting to alleviate his suffering by sharing the burden of his actions that day. Upon hearing this, the serious expression on Gintoki's face turns to astonishment at being able to achieve mutual understanding and once again have a common goal that is deeply personal to both of them (ch. 682).

10. Born under the same star

While Gintoki's eyes reflect the despair he feels at having to strike Takasugi's body, he remembers their childhood together. Gintoki fought very hard to protect everyone, but Takasugi fought even harder to protect him, and although Gintoki was definitely not ready to lose him, Takasugi was content with the idea that he had prevented him from killing their sensei once more. Knowing that he has little time left, it's Gintoki's turn to be more sincere. He embraces Takasugi and reassures him, acknowledging that he did indeed manage to protect him and that he wished they could have drunk together more often. But Takasugi tells Gintoki he doesn't want to hear him like this and he asks him not to send him off with a sad face. Mustering willpower, Gintoki smiles and tells him to wait for him in hell, which becomes the last sight from Takasugi's right eye as he smiles back before dying. No longer able to restrain his emotions, Gintoki weeps as he watches the sunset (ch. 703).

Part (1) (2) (3) (4)

[lotus-tower]

okay so. i've always thought it was obvious that yoshiwara in flames arc's main relevance to gintama's overall narrative is as the prelude to rakuyou. like it's not thematically very interesting on its own, right? but it exists mainly for kagura and kamui's sake, establishing the sort of parallelism that gintama lives off of. it isn't really that connected to the red spider arc even though at first it might seem to be.

but i had no idea about the meaning of the name "rakuyou" until i saw @suchira 's post about it earlier today. and before that i also hadn't thought about utsuro's connection to the sun, which they've also talked about.

given everything that happens in rakuyou, this has expanded my thoughts quite a bit! i'm going be thinking through this as i go, so this is going to be me rambling.

housen is one of the few big arc villains who don't feel related to gintoki. jirocho, jiraia, oboro, takasugi--these kinds are obviously meant to be foils to gintoki. isaburo functions differently as a character, but even he gets directly compared to gintoki by nobume. but housen isn't really there for gintoki--he's there for kamui. he isn't a particularly interesting character, nor is his death very satisfying because of the wishywashy writing about hinowa showing kindness to him at the end. previously i'd thought that his thing with the sun was just a weaker example of craving something that would destroy you, and/or running away from one's weaknesses and vulnerabilities to the point that you become a sort of husk.

that's probably still a thing, but the introduction of the sun motif on the much more meaning-dense end of gintama adds so much more. because now the pre-existing thematic framework of gintama can do the heavy lifting for housen (who is, again, a pretty uninteresting character), hinowa (who is cool, but suffers from both Woman and Mom in shounen), and tsukuyo (who is very cool, but suffers egregiously from Woman in shounen).

so what is housen, really? he's the guy kamui chose to go with when making his very bad life decisions, the end result of the path he decided to pursue. for simplicity let's call him kamui bad end, though they aren't very comparable in canon itself because housen doesn't come across as nearly self-destructive enough. but the basic logic is that housen is one of those characters who gave up everything in single-minded pursuit of power--he's a flat character because he already "emptied himself out", as kamui says, before the series started. (but then he got scared and lonely, and all that.)

what's funny is that if housen is a bad end, then the guy who he considers his rival automatically comes to mind as an opposed route. i think it would be a serious stretch to call umibouzu the "good end" for kamui, and that's definitely part of the point in how the yato are written. but in any case, kamui clearly looked both ways (insert roads leading to two castles meme) and saw housen stereotypical villain bad end on one side, and his dad on the other. so obviously he chose housen.

rakuyou is a planet where it's always overcast. you could say that kamui chose to leave that "safety" in order to pursue something that shone much brighter to him, even if it would disintegrate him in the end. or, since rakuyou's name invokes the sun, you could say that he chose to flee the place of his weakness and pain, where his family was, like housen deciding to flee the sun and build an underground paradise.

when i go over my gintama cast tarot assignments, i always hesitate over hinowa. is she the Sun? or the Empress? how can i choose? and i think this is essentially the same conundrum. and i think the fact that she's both (thankfully, actual gintama storytelling isn't restricted to 1 character = 1 arcana) also provides us with the best answer here. hinowa is the object of yearning of both housen (as the sun) and of seita (as a mother). obviously, as i said before, the whole seita-hinowa thing is meant to lay the groundwork for kamui's motivations, and is also why he's introduced in this arc in the particular way that he is. but kamui is both seita and housen. he's the child yearning for his mother, but also the warlord who fears the sun so much he'll lock not only himself but countless others into the dark forever. but housen also desperately longed for the sun. kamui looks down on seita for being weak, and he looks down on housen for choosing to drown himself in vices at the end of his life. in the end, he doesn't kill either one of them.

if the sun is what kamui yearns for, he wants to leave rainy "rakuyou" behind--and/or he misses his home, his childhood, his family, even if these things feel like they will destroy him. or, if the sun is what kamui seeks to avoid, he wants to turn away from "rakuyou", all the things that hold him down so that he can throw himself into single-minded pursuit of self-destruction--and/or he's afraid of the weakness and pain that the sun inflicts on him, and desires to be strong enough that he won't feel them. see, a whole lot of words to say the same thing over and over.

i've always assigned housen the Emperor arcana. and i've often wondered, should it be umibouzu instead? should it be utsuro? and that, i think, is another illumination. thank you tarot for being an icon. it's so effective here because gintama is predictably built on parallels, and overlapping arcana assignments are bound to make you think: why?

in the end, housen builds a city underground in order to avoid the sun, but he also severs hinowa's ankles so that he can hold her, the sun proxy, captive in his grasp. he can't bear to feel sunlight, but he can't bear to let it go either. kamui is much the same, but he's young--he thinks he can let it go, his fears and regrets haven't caught up to him yet, because he still has so much to reach for. housen attained the peak of his strength and notoriety, and then there was little left for him.

what else happens in rakuyou? well, oboro and takasugi fight. oboro is sort of a seita figure in his own right, if seita had burned down yoshiwara in hopes that it would drive hinowa running to him. of course, seita didn't know that hinowa couldn't run; and oboro didn't know that shouyou couldn't, either.

but aside from seita and housen, there's another character in yoshiwara who yearns for the sun--not to possess it, but to protect it, to serve it. tsukuyo is an interesting character heavily let down by the realities of living in shounen jump. from my own understanding of sorachi's character, i don't think the following was intentional on his part. but i do think there are real reasons why these parallels are textually present (mainly through gintoki).

tsukuyo is the closest oboro has in this series to someone similar to him. not in the sense of a reflection in the mirror or hole-sided adjacency, but as in someone who sort of has a similar job and background to him. or had, anyway. as i implied earlier, the few, specific, clearly intentional similarities she has with gintoki (hello red spider) bleed over into her similarities with oboro, of course, because gintoki and oboro are... you know. just look at them.

tsukuyo swore herself to hinowa, but technically she was working under housen. she led housen's paramilitary force--fortunately, the hyakka loved her a lot more than the naraku were probably ever able to have an opinion about oboro. i don't think tsukuyo and oboro would ever get along--but they did have the same job. oboro did it in the heavens, tsukuyo did it underground. anyway, hinowa "saved" tsukuyo by teaching her about fighting from inside one's cage, and so tsukuyo gladly walked into the cage, just like oboro returning to the naraku without shouyou. because they thought it would be worth it. and also because tsukuyo had been groomed from a young age for the Hole (apologies to those who haven't read my ouroboros essay), to give up on her selfhood, and also to kill her sensei (hello gintoki). but hinowa remained around, unlike shouyou. tsukuyo never thought she could really free her--but protecting her, being able to see her, was enough.

oboro's life problem is a bit like if hinowa and housen were the same person. but kamui would see in that pairing only a reflection of his parents. and also, kouka is a bit like if hinowa and utsuro were the same person. but utsuro is already like if shouyou and utsuro were the same person--because oboro's actual life problem is that shouyou and utsuro are the same person.

i've spoken a lot about tarot, but the moon in gintama has little to do with the Moon arcana. in gintama it's the backdrop, the symbol of promises--promises made, promises fulfilled, promises held on to dearly whether they can be fulfilled or not. i don't truly think that the sun as represented by hinowa interacts directly with this. but tsukuyo and oboro share moon-related names, and their promises (or rather, their vows of devotion) towards hinowa/shouyou are one-sided. one-sided promises aren't a problem in gintama--our silver-haired protagonist wouldn't be alive if it weren't for them.

if the naraku, if utsuro, if oboro under utsuro is associated with the sun through the yatagarasu, perhaps it's because of the evaporation of the promise through the eclipsing of the moon. shouka sonjuku, after all, burned down, and utsuro emerged from a pyre. and though i think that the sun is overall a motif much more strongly associated with the yato--that which they avoid, are weak to, and secretly long for--i don't think that's incompatible with the crow-meaning.

rabbits can die of loneliness, you know--or they can die from overheating in the sun. i think the question here is, is this a trick question? are those two the same thing?

[gintama-polls]

The nomination form was left active a little longer than was planned, but it is now closed and the episode tourney will soon start.

Out of 367 episodes, three movies, and several specials and OVAs, 89 of them are a part of this tourney. You can see the full list of entries under the cut.

Which is your favorite? The polling will begin on Thursday.

Entries:

1: You bastards!! Do you even have a silver soul?

3: Nobody with Naturally Wavy Hair Can Be That Bad

9: Fighting should be done properly

13:If you are going to cosplay, put your heart into it! 

20: Beware of conveyor belts

25: The hot-pot is a microcosm of life

32: Life Moves on like a Conveyor Belt

34: Love Doesn’t Require a Manual

35: You Can't Judge a Person by His Appearance, Either

38: Only Children Play in the Snow

48: The More You're Alike, the More You Fight61: On a Moonless Night, Insects Are Drawn to the Light

65: Youngsters learn the value of life from rhinoceros beetles

77: Yesterday's Enemy, After All Is Said And Done, Is Still The Enemy

79: Four Heads Are Better Than One

81: A Woman's Best Make Up Is Her Smile

83: Rank Has Nothing To Do With Luck

87: Perform A German Suplex On A Woman Who Asks If She Or The Job Is More Important

96: If You're A Man, Don't Give Up

99: Life And Video Games Are Full Of Bugs

103: There's A Thin Line Between Strengths And Weaknesses

105: It's All About The Beat And Timing

111: There's Almost A 100% Chance You'll Forget Your Umbrella And Hate Yourself For It

119: Within Each Box Of Cigarettes, Are One Or Two Cigarettes That Smell Like Horse Dung

142: Life Is A Series Of Choices

153: Sleep Helps A Child Grow

156: It Takes A Bit Of Courage To Enter A Street Vendor's Stand

166: Two Is Better Than One. Two People Are Better Than One

175: People Of All Ages Hate The Dentist!

180: The More Precious The Burden, The Heavier And More Difficult It Is To Shoulder It

184: Popularity Polls Can…

187: It's Goodbye Once A Flag Is Set

201: Everybody's A Santa

203: Everyone Looks Pretty Grown up after Summer Break

204: Use a Calligraphy Pen for New Year's Cards

205: Meals Should Be Balanced

206: It's Too Confusing When Talking about the Poster Girl for a Poster Store, So Call Her a Sandwich Board

211: Ghosts Aren't the Only Ones Who Run Wild around Graveyards

214: Tis an Honor!

215: Odds or Even

216: I Can't Remember a Damn Thing about the Factory Tour

217: What Happens Twice Can Happen Thrice

220: The Bathhouse, Where You're Naked in Body and Soul"

230: It Would Take Too Much Effort to Make This Title Sound like a Text Message Subject

231: When You Go to a Funeral for the First Time, You're Surprised by How Happy the People Are

237: Please Take Me Skiing

239: Even at year-end parties, there are some things you shouldn't forget.

240: People Can Only Live by Forgetting the Bad

241: We Are All Hosts, in Capital Letters

246: Festival of Thornies

247: Letter from Thorny

256: The Meaning of a Main Character

260: Pinky Swear

261: Unsetting Moon

264: Liquor and Gasoline, Smiles and Tears

265: Dog Food Doesn't Have As Much Flavor As You'd Think

268: An Inspector's Love Begins with an Inspection

272: A Reunion Also Brings to the Surface Things You Don't Want to Remember

273: When Compared to Time in Heaven, Fifty Years of Human Life Resembles Nothing but Dreams and Lottery Tickets

275: 9 + 1 = Yagyuu Jyuubei

282: A Phoenix Rises from the Ashes Over and Over

287: He's the Sweet Tooth, and I'm the Mayo Guy

296: Take the Initial Premise Lightly, and It'll Cost You

297: Keep Your Farewells Short

301: Ninja Village

304: Those Who Protect Against All Odds

305: Sworn Enemy

311: Jailbreak

315: Nobume

316: Farewell, Shinsengumi

320: Zura

322: Ten Years

323: Paths

326: Siblings

330: My Bald Dad, My Light-Haired Dad and My Dad`s Glasses

333: All the Answers Can Be Found in the Field

335: The Super Sadist and the Super Sadist

341: Guardian Spirits Are Also a Part of the Soul

342: Try As You Might to Make a Natural Perm Go Away, It Will Always Return

346: Geezers Carve the Things They Shouldn't Forget into Their Wrinkles

355: Rabbits Leap Higher on Moonlit Nights

356: Making a Dull World Interesting

361: The Creatures Known as Humanity

364: Two in Girl Years Is Equal to Ten in Man Years

366: Dun Dun

367: Gintama Final Ending Scamming Trial

Gintama: A New Retelling Benizakura Arc

Gintama: The Movie: The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya

Gintama The Final

[lacerta123]

I’m not sure why 5 is winning. There’s an entire episode about why that’s a bad idea. You’re gonna be canon fodder for some stupid dick measuring contest. It’s an 8 hour flight, Hijikata’s gonna go into nicotine withdrawal. You’re gonna have to watch him eat Mayo straight because he successfully argued it was an emulsion and not a liquid to the TSA. Gintoki’s gonna pretend to go into sugar withdrawal just to mess with him.

Also I feel like someone’s gonna get thrown across the entire plane, and I think it’s gonna be Sougo. He’s going to land on Hijikata, and probably on you too. Don’t choose seat 5.

Seat 8 ends with Sougo poking the bear, because he can’t help himself, and Kamui fighting him. There’s a good chance Kamui will crash the plane, but I can see it surviving if Mutsu pulls a double shift and starts keeping both Sakamoto and Kamui under control. Like she sees Sougo get hucked across the plane and turns around in her seat and starts chewing Kamui out. Her buzzkill energy will save us all. Or Sougo’s self preservation will kick in and he’ll just get grilled about his relationship with Kagura the whole time while he desperately tries not to talk to him. But they already have an established history of crashing airships while fighting eachother, I’m just saying.

Seat 7 would probably be fine, but not pleasant. God knows Sakamoto cannot shut up but at least Mutsu is there to keep him in check. Sakamoto is going to throw up every five seconds though, and you are in Kamui/Sougo fight blast radius.

Seat 6 is going to be ungodly levels of awkward. I can imagine Katsura trying to make small talk and getting barely a response every time. But he just keeps trying. Takasugi might say something weird and extreme and Katsura will chew him out like a disappointed mother. Takasugi’s gonna disassociate from being in close proximity to Gintoki and Katsura’s gonna go to sleep with his eyes open, and snore.

Seat 1 is my choice, and not just because Nobume is beautiful and breathtaking. I can imagine her being pretty chill on the flight. She’s a sadist, but only when provoked. The worst thing that could happen is she’ll get crumbs on you from snacking on donuts. The only downside is Kagura and Soyo are behind you, and they’ll be chatting the whole time. And they won’t want to leave Nobume out of the fun so they might start poking her through the seat. And Kagura might kick the back of your seat a little.

Seat 2 seems like a good idea, because Shinpachi’s a polite guy who’s not gonna cause trouble on an 8 hour flight. But you’re sandwiched between Kagura and Soyo’s chattiness and Sa-Chan and Otae’s cattiness. There’s gonna be a lot of noise, and Shinpachi’s gonna have to stand up and yell at Kagura to stop kicking the seat in front of her.

Seat 3 is also pretty chill, because Tsukki probably will be polite. But you’re stuck listening to Sa-Chan getting worked up in her delusion that Otae’s her love rival, and the two of them being passive aggressive to each other the entire plane ride. Also you’re getting off the plane last if you sit here, and getting off the plane first if you sit next to Nobume,

Just my two cents.

[gintamajustaway]

How do you feel about Gintama female characters and how would you compare them to other shounen female characters( excluding FMA of course ). Who do you think is the strongest( character wise) and weakest female character in Gintama.

LOL THANKS FOR EXCLUDING FMA BECAUSE I WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TOUCH THAT AT ALL! 

It’s hard to pick the strongest woman, to be honest, since there are so many I think are great. 

Otae, for one. Physical strength is one thing and it’s definitely something she has, but she’s also more mature and mentally strong than most people her age. She loses her dad, doesn’t have a mom, and so steps up and gets a job at a club, tries to reopen her father’s dojo, all while looking after her brother and being the provider of the family? It takes a serious badass to do all of that. She never even tried to force Shinpachi to help her. She just told him to do what would make him happy while she carried the brunt of the responsibilities. 

Kagura, for obvious reasons like her physical strength. And even though I think Kamui’s whole thing ended up being really dumb, Kagura still had to overcome a lot and make some really difficult decisions at such a young age. She never lost focus, either. She set out to do something and she didn’t stop until she got it.

Otose, also known as: Gintoki’s mom. She’d been through a lot in her life, but when she found Gintoki and saw the state he was in, she didn’t think twice before bringing him back with her and giving him a place to call home. She always had faith in Gintoki and his abilities and not only is she sharp and intelligent, she has the strength to let Gintoki go when she needs to. That can’t be easy, but she still does it.

Another woman who I think is very strong and underrated is Ikumatsu. No, she’s not one of the ones running out to fight all the time, but sometimes strength is measured in different ways. She’s one of the kindest and most humble people in the series. She basically has a fortune and could easily live an extravagant life of luxury, but instead, she decides to run a shop and feed people delicious food for a cheap price so that they can fill their bellies. She’s hardworking, gorgeous, and giving -- I wish Sorachi had given her more focus.

There are others I didn’t talk about like Nobume, Sarutobi, Hinowa, Tetsuko, etc., but the above are the main ones that came to mind. And I’m not going to talk about which ones I think are weakest because I never like to do that kind of stuff. As for comparing them to other shounen women, I don’t know, I don’t really do that. I’m glad you took FMA off the table because those women are untouchable, but I’m not that into shounen stuff, there’s usually too much het nonsense for me.

[gaundyfied]

(Also posted on fanfiction.net)

AU! Picking up a human stray never crossed her mind. Or an attempt at an au where Kagura is the Kaguya-hime, an infamous on-call assassin of the Kaientai and she meets a newly orphaned and younger Okita Sougo.

(Sougo and his sister never met the Shinsengumi.)

Disclaimer: I've never wanted to be the gorilla but I root for Okikagu and Gintsu.

Beware of the grammar and inconsistency teehee~

I.

Staying in Kabuki-chou has never been part of her plans, but it was raining outside, the announcer mentioned that it will last for the whole night because of a typhoon and if it didn't bother Kagura that Abuto would give her an earful later, she'll probably shrug it off. It's not as if she didn't enjoy staying on her favorite district, once in a while. But she doesn't have any place to stay, with Kamui cutting her budget and she couldn't risk encountering any humans on that particular night.

In her defense, she's been ready in case she'll be stranded somewhere. It was a good thing she bought a packed lunch worth a ten people in a nearby convenience store before going to the mission. The rain started to get stronger, though, and she's not on the right form tonight.

She has her sensei's old, dusty hideout in the second floor of a cabaret bar but it was too far; her wound threatens to open again and the only place she could get into was a shrine. What a luck. Heaving slightly, she limped towards the stairs, umbrella tightly grasped in her right hand as she tried to grit her teeth from pain. Her wounds are healing slowly and it was unusual. They probably used some of that poisonous weapons they got from the Kaientai. Those bastards.

She observed the surroundings as she reached the site. It was a shady place; an abandoned shrine settling near Oedo Park. She was sure she has never seen this before but she has no choice. She could hear Gin-chan whining how scary the place was but he wasn't here and he will never be. Thunder clapped from the sky, signaling that it was not safe outside. If only she didn't accepted that fucking assignment.

He was testing her, that one-eyed bastard. It was not enough that her brother vouched for her, he had to make her suffer too, just so he could be assured that she broke her ties with her perm-haired of a teacher. He's being paranoid and he should be. As if Gin-chan can be defeated by the likes of him. Not that it matters because the idiot was nowhere to be found and the only contact she has in this place was the courtesan of death living in the Yoshiwara. The Shimuras are in hiding and it was best not to know where they are. They'll be in danger if she knows.

Her mission was simple; infiltrate the bakufu building in Edo and search for Kihetai's mole being held on the upper part of the building. She passed albeit almost dying after being sliced in the abdomen by one of the samurais she met before she and the mole escaped. They parted ways, the said mole saying that he could distract the rest of the group. They'll meet at the terminal the next day.

If it weren't for the baldy and Kamui, she would never join Takasugi. Her father is missing, just like the shiroyasha while Kamui is unstable; only Nobume could control him as of the moment and she's in a mission too. He's using her brother as a leverage to leash her. To bind her entire being to him.

She reached the shrine, didn't even bother to take off her boots. Anego would probably scold her for being impolite but no one's here. Gently, she reached for her goggles, letting it stay on her neck before taking off her cape. The shrine was dark so she searched for some matches or lighter to make light. She copped a feel to the paper walls, expecting to be lead to whatever place that could have a source of light.

The rain continued to pour as she went inside a room that could be a kitchen. Trying as she might, she rummaged the cabinets when she heard a rustling in her back. Thinking that it was one of the guards earlier, she turned around only to see a guy, most likely a boy not far from her age. In his hands was a lamp, which she was thankful for, and a gun shakingly pointed at her.

She observed him or an effort to observe him in this unlit space. His face full of bruises and his left eye swollen. He looks like a street rat. "Oi, kids should be inside their home by now, you know."

He didn't answered her and instead cocked the gun. "You. What are you doing here?"

She wanted to laugh. What happened to Edo after she left she didn't know. All she could see though was a child holding a gun with so much fear and it made her uncomfortable.

"Hey. I asked you a question."

"I asked you first but you didn't answer. Put that down, brat."

He wasn't convinced, as he should be. Sighing, she raised her hands to admit surrender before talking to him again. "Look, I got food here, you got a light. We've both got nothing to stay so maybe we could trade?"

The boy continued to observed her before lowering down his weapon. Apparently, his hunger had won his internal battle between his self. That made her relieved. At least she dodge a bullet on that one. Literally. This was going to be a long night, she thinks.

II.

His name was of no important, he said, but she convinced him to at least tell her his family name. She learned that it was Okita after he glared at her but she preferred to call him chibi, which intensified the glare. His eyes reminded her so much of the silver haired samurai she has always followed. They reek of something that has been kept at bay, waiting to be freed.

"What about you?" He ended the silence.

Taking off the plastic in her cold dinner, she replied absentmindedly. "What about me?"

"Your name, China-bitch."

"You--" she sighed, not really interested to retaliate.".. just call me whatever you want, chibi."

It didn't surprise her that he wanted to know too. He's a curious one, that brat. Telling him her name is kind of a taboo to her. She hears anego shouting that abominable name as she remembers what entailed that morning. She couldn't tell the illusions apart so she obliterated the thought of the very name. She hates it now.

Still, he kept on pestering her that night as she munch on her sukonbu, her stomach quite full. At first, she thought he'd be disgusted by her chosen snack after their cold meal but he sat still, unbothered by her eating. After he didn't get what he want, he sat with her on the porch. The rain continued its onslaught while they watch its performance.

"Kaguya. Like that princess from the moon."

She hears him scoff, her cape resting on his shoulder. "An idiot name for an idiot woman."

That was the first time she laughed for a while. Of course it's silly.

It was surreal for her. For all she knows, handling a child, albeit someone who's near her age but still a child nonetheless, was a very tiresome task. She saw Gin-chan as he tried to keep her from trouble while knowing that she was an enemy of his kind.

Kagura wasn't a saint, that she knew. A yato kills and slaughters and murders so nothing will remain in front of him.

Who knows what she could do with this child.

III.

"China! Can we not sleep on a Love Hotel? I swear bed bugs are biting me." His crimson eyes examined the buildings outside.

"Beggars can't be choosy, chibi. Just be thankful that we have somewhere to stay. Do you want to sleep on the shrine again, huh?"

That shut him up. The idiot gets too sensitive whenever she mentions her nickname for him. Well, he should be. After all of the trouble she went through just so he could join her on her mission, he should be thankful that he'll be treated with a luxurious lunch.

Right after that night when they met, she entrusted him with Tsukuyo. At least there, he'll be protected while she could be assured that he's being treated properly. He promised the hyakka that she'll visit regularly but the brat just glared at her and told her to get lost. After that, their only communication was letter sending as it was the safest option.

This month, she was given a low-ranked mission and on Earth, fortunately. She was to escort some important amanto and well, she was ahead of her schedule so she visited the chibi. He was growing on her, she swears.

"Oi, chibi," she started as they peacefully ate their food on a nearby maid cafe. "Is Tsukuyo-nee okay? No one's bothering her, right?"

Her eyes twitched as she watched him pour down a handful of tabasco on his omurice. "Yeah. She's letting me patrol the Yoshiwara and training me at the same time."

"That's great, I guess."

She smile sheepishly as silence began growing again. On the bright side, she noticed his growth spurt. He was getting taller and she couldn't help but be proud. When she left that night, his small form was engraved in her mind. He didn't sniffle but she knows he was sulking.

"Well, it took you a month to visit again. Why bother visiting?"

She almost choked at his question. He sure got a loose tongue. "Aren't you a cheeky one? What if I just want to bother you?"

"Bullshit. Cut the crap, will you? We both know I'm not your responsibility."

It kind of stings, hearing him say it. She knows he was his own being but she kept on tying bonds that didn't matter.

"Yeah. That's right. So you need to earn some money too so you could repay me. I've got a list, chibi."

He stared, like always. He kept on attacking and she kept on dodging. Why can't he go with her? Why does she visit him? Why can't she erase the connection. Why, indeed.

IV.

Sometimes, she dreams of Kabuki-chou with Gin-chan and Shinpachi. Her breakfast filled with rice and egg on top. Sadaharu, licking her face as they walk on the park without any worries. Their adventures in Yoshiwara as her guardian slash teacher visited his wife.

Next day, she'll be seeing the flames engulfing the Shimura dojo as Kamui slashed through the wooden barriers. Soyo, chained and without consciousness as Takasugi claimed his trophy. Her hands connecting with her brother as he smiled sadistically.

'Choose, sister.'

This evening, she dreamt of the chibi and his tobasco as they ate without any care in the world around them.

V.

"You shouldn't leave yet, Kagura."

"I can't, Tsukky. You'll be in danger, you know that."

"He's been sleepless, you know."

Me too, she answers in her mind as she rearranged her cape and goggles. It was hard leaving him. Letting him sleep on his own in Tsukuyo's extra futon without her in his embrace. She saw him pouted the other night as she explained her sudden mission. She remembered touching his growing hair as she murmured her apologies.

"Tell him I'll come back for his sister's anniversary." She said without turning back. While she could still leave without thinking that he's on his own again.

"Tell that in my face, China."

She couldn't help the smile forming on her face. "Yeah, I will."

VI.

She lost control of her body as she lay down on the bloody ground. There was red everywhere and her vision flickers every now and then. This was a suicide mission, she knew it from the start. Nobume warned her, Abuto even managed to hit her in the head just so she could understand the danger. But what could she do?

It was Shinpachi and Anego that are in danger and she couldn't betray them again. Not when her beloved sister carries that precious dark haired infant in her bossom. Not when she could do something this time.

She laughs at herself. She wanted to cry. Of course, she couldn't do it on her own. Who was she? She's just a product of a promise that is empty, a lonely rabbit searching where she would belong. Under the sky, she longed for her moon, awaiting the verdict of the gods above.

Kaguya-hime.

"Kaguya-hime, it's time to go back."

She could recognise that lazy drawl. His bokuto, touya-ko, tightly gripped by his hands. "Gin-chan, I'm no princess."

"Oh but you are. You're Gin-chan's lovely Kagura-chan. I'm sorry, I left you on your own. Daddy just have to do some unfinished business, you see."

"Silly, Gin-chan. You're not my dad."

He laughed and it really made her day. "Of course I am. So let me and your idiot guy do your job for you."

In the end, his ruby eyes and his sandy hair was the last thing she saw.

[agailous]

NOOO!! Because we talked about this on Twitter!

Oboro. Is. A. Virgin.

I can’t emphasized this. Like, I would literally fight anyone who believed otherwise. He’s a FUCKING VIRGIN! The purest, untouched maiden of them all!

Oboro is more of a virgin than Shinpachi! Hell, even Shinpachi have more experienced with romance and sexual stuff than him! (Shinpachi have his first kiss, a virtual gf, and an almost romantic experienced with that correspondence arc girl).

Why do I think Oboro’s a virgin?

Okay, first of all, Oboro is a monk. Yes, he is a MONK! Nobume herself stated in Courtesan of a Nation arc (episode 257-261) that the Tenshouin Naraku is a religious extremist cult. And that Oboro was the leader.

The Naraku is a cult that has Buddhism and Hinduism influence and since Oboro is the leader, he’s the abbot (head monk) of the Naraku.

Monks are suppose to stay celibate and get rid of their “earthly desires.” Hell, they’re not even allowed to masterbate, kiss someone or think of any sensual desires.

Sex is seen as a serious monastery transgression. (There are four principal which entail expulsion from the monastic Sangha: sex, theft, murder, and falsely boasting of superhuman perfections.)

Oboro is also sooo busy all the fucking time. You think a man who runs a murderous cult behind the scenes and full of hatred and vengeance for his teacher’s students, especially with Gintoki because he beat his ass, have a chance to rest? Hell no. I bet he don’t even have time to date around or atleast have a leisure. Also, to grow up in a murderous cult that raised orphans to be bloodthirsty heartless assassins, I doubt that dating is literally one of Oboro’s (or anyone in the Naraku, to be honest) priorities.

Though, I think he know what “sex” is. He’s just not interested nor is he allowed to participate in that act.

In conclusion, Oboro is a virgin.

oboro doesn't know what sex is lol

what do you mean by that anon?????WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT???

LISTEN I GOT THIS ASK THIS MORNING AND IT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND ALL DAY BECAUSE WHY DOES IT SEEM TRUE 😭

I MEAN.......IF HE DIDNT I WOULD TOTALLY BELIEVE IT

i'm ngl I can totally see that happening tbh..........

like he's loyal to his teacher and protecting the school....

he is a monk......

he probably doesn't know what it is............

MY BROTHER IN THE NARAKU HOW???? fklajgklfkljklsklsjgklsjglksgklfsjgksjlkgsjldjs

Hitsugi: what type of sex do you enjoy?

Oboro: what's sex?

OBOROOOOO PLSSSSSSSSSSSS

[yangxiaoshorter]

Why Utsuro was the perfect Gintama villain.

(Taken from reddit, with permission from the poster. Posting it here because more Gintama fans need to see it).

Warning: This won't have any manga spoilers, but inevitably, a lot of anime spoilers.

So while most things in Gintama are universally loved by the fans, by comparison, Utsuro seems to be slightly more contraversial. He isn’t hated by any means and most Gintama fans still like him, but there are a few who think he is just a generic overpowered final boss that the show didn’t need. I want to explain why Utsuro is not only great, but the perfect villain for this show. For this I will have to talk about two characters: Utsuro himself of course, and the main character, Sakata Gintoki. Brace yourselves, because we are going to go deep here.

Before I start though let’s just quickly summarize what Utsuro is on the surface though. He is the most powerful being in Gintama. He is the biggest threat that the show had so far. He is an immortal being who is so hard to kill that even he himself has trouble killing himself. On that regard you could compare him to characters like Madara Uchiha from Naruto, or Aizen from Bleach. But that is far from everything that there is to Utsuro as a character. And most of it is because of what Gintoki is as a character.

Sakata Gintoki is one of the strongest main characters you can find. I’m not talking about “blowing up planets” or “cutting through dimensions”. I’m talking about the fact that Gintoki has such a strong personality, beliefs and conviction that almost nothing can shake him. This is partly because of his personality, because of all the suffering he went through (more than anyone else) and of course, Shoyo’s teachings. In a normal Shounen, “Death” is the biggest threat a character can face. But like it was pointed out in Rakuyo arc “Death and Breakfast are equally close to Gintoki”. Gintoki doesn’t fear death. For him it isn’t just “I would sacrifice my life” type of thing like most others. He literally doesn’t fear death. After seeing so much of it death is just another part of life for him. For a man like him, it doesn’t matter how strong a foe is. The worst they can do is kill him, which doesn’t scare him. The only thing that shakes Gintoki is when people around him get hurt, but even then, after overcoming everything in his life, Gintoki now believes that he can protect them no matter what. Even during the few times Gin loses control (like with Jirocho or Oboro) he recovers quiet quickly.

There is something Kamui says to Gintoki in Rakuyo: “You don’t see me when you fight. With Housen and with Shinsuke too. You aren’t fighting the one in front of you. Who is it that you are fighting?” This is the main point of where I’m coming from. No villain, not even his closest friend can shake Gintoki, because when he fights, he fights himself and his own weaknesses, not the opponent in front of him. There can be a lot more that can be said about it but I’m sure most of you know this part so I’m going to keep it brief. So why is Gintoki’s character so strong? Because the “foundation” of his beliefs are so strong that no attack on them can even shake them. So the only way to even shake Gintoki would be to attack that “foundation” itself.

There is a saying that a hero is only as good as their villain. Which is true in most cases, but there is also the opposite: A villain can only be strong if he confronts a strong hero. Otherwise, your audience might start finding the hero they were supposed to root for annoying and start agreeing with the villain, which is the last thing you would want as a storyteller. Now as we established, Gintoki is really strong as a character. He can emphatize with everyones suffering, because he suffered more than any of them. He knows people can come out as a better person after all sufferings because he himself managed it after far worse. That is where Utsuro comes in.

Every aspect of Utsuro’s character is specifically created to challenge Gintoki. His very existence, ideas, his past, his actions… everything about Utsuro is an antithesis for Gintoki. Let me explain what I mean by that because there are a few reasons. First being of course, that he is Yoshida Freaking Shoyo. The man who made Gintoki who he is. Everything Gin is started with this man. While what happened to Shoyo was one of biggest regrets in Gintoki’s life, he still overcame that and mostly made peace with it. He finally accepted (not over night btw. You can literally see it happen throughout the show) that he could forgive himself. That he did his best. That Shoyo would be proud of what he did and does. That was because he knew who Shoyo was. Thanks to his teachings, Gintoki learned to forgive people, people like Takasugi, or himself. But then Utsuro appeared. An embodiment of all of Gintoki’s fears and regrets. For Gintoki, Utsuro was created by one of the biggest regrets in his life. He was literally a walking talking version of everything Gin tried to overcame. Not only that, but Utsuro’s existence also shook one of Gintoki’s core beliefs as a person. That you don’t have to be empty. That you can overcome any pain. Gintoki was baseing those beliefs on his own experience and Shoyo, and throughout the show, he always challenged people who run from pain (like Jiraia, or Takasugi). But now Utsuro’s existence on its own meant that he could be wrong. That the only reason he wasn’t empty was because he didn’t suffer enough. Because even the person he trusted the most could be broken and become empty with enough pain. That is what Utsuro’s existence meant. Everything that gave strength to Gintoki was suddenly shaken by Utsuro’s very existence. It also meant that Gin himself still wasn’t safe. He suddenly started fearing that with enough suffering, he too can become empty again. Become like Utsuro.

If you think that I’m overanalyzing this I want to remind you of the first things Utsuro does when he appears: Literally, before he even appears on screen, the first thing he does is throw a sword at Kagura. Something that would have at least fatally wounded her if Nobume hadn’t pushed her out of the way. Later, he almost stabs Shinpachi on the forehead, who was saved by Sougo at the last second. Then in Silver Soul arc, he almost kills Sadaharu. This is not a coincidence. Who are Kagura, Shinpachi and Sadaharu to Gintoki? They are the Yorozuya. As in, they are the embodiment of everything Gintoki build since he started overcoming his weaknesses. Symbolically and physically, Utsuro was trying to destroy Gintoki from the very beginning.

I also want to give you a few examples on that. First, remember what Sougo says to Gintoki in Silver Soul: “When you confront that man, you lose control and see nothing but that guy. You don’t act like yourself”. Indeed, throughout the show, especially in Silver Soul arc, Utsuro is constantly making Gintoki lose control. There are 3 instances in the show where Gintoki almost “gives up”. First being when he loses his memories, which obviously doesn’t count. Second being in 4 Devas, which was just an act to keep the kids out of trouble. So the only time Gintoki falls into despair and almost gives up is in Silver Soul, when he thinks about how he didn’t make progress even now, right before the Shinsengumi shows up. Again, all these is just shows how much Utsuro gets to him. More than anyone else in the show ever could.

Because Utsuro is not only Shoyo, not only is he everything Gintoki fought to overcome before, but he is a product of the humanity Gintoki always wanted to believe in. He is the monster Gintoki was scared of becoming. Noone can deny the fact that Utsuro has one of the worst pasts in the show. He was tortured again and again. People killed him again and again and no matter how much he wished for it, they didn’t manage to kill him. Which made them fear him even more, which made them hurt him even more. For decades, he was killed, tortured, went through pain that would easily kill anyone else, but he wasn’t even granted the escape that was death. He was stuck in a prison that was the world that didn’t want him. That he didn’t want to be in. Yet he couldn’t escape. The monster that was Utsuro was created by humans. He became Utsuro (Hollow) because of them. And Gintoki understood that. That is why he couldn’t ignore his stance like the other two. For Katsura, Shoyo was dead and he made peace with it, and Utsuro was just a villain threatening his new life. For Takasugi, Utsuro was the one who killed Shoyo. He hated him, but he was just another target for his revenge. But Gintoki understood what Shoyo and Utsuro were more than anyone, and that is why he was affected more than anyone else.

So what does all this have to do with Utsuro? Well as I said, a great villain, especially a final villain, should be able to challenge the hero on every aspect, not just at swinging swords. And Utsuro stood against everything Gintoki stood for. I’m not going to give manga spoilers here, so just going to say that Gintoki has to overcome all his weaknesses, fears and traumas if he wants to truly defeat Utsuro. And Gintoki’s beliefs are important because they make up the core of Gintama’s ideology. Every villain in some way challenges that ideology: Even the likes of Takasugi and Isaburo. However, none of them go against it as clearly as Utsuro does.

So where does Utsuro himself stand in all this: Some people don’t understand his motivation. Saying that it is weird that he would say that he wants to die but then fight people who want to kill him, but while this isn’t the point of the post I’m going to briefly explain that first to avoid misunderstandings:

Utsuro isn’t just an immortal being who wants to die. He also wants to get revenge on everyone. Not just because for the sake of it, but because he wants to proof himself right. He more than anyone knows how deep humanity can go. So if Gintoki fights to proof that humanity is worth saving, Utsuro fights for the opposite. He wants to proof that despair can overcome anyone. That humanity will abondan everything, their believes, their loves, their ideals when they are confronted with a fear that they can’t overcome. Utsuro doesn’t just want to die. He wants to end the humanity that he sees as a curse on everything.

So in the final battle of the war, when he is about to cut Nobume but hesitates, that was the main conflict coming back at him. It wasn’t Shoyo literally coming back as a seperate entity to hold him back. That was symbolizm. He hesitated because everything those people who he was fighting did at that moment, was going against all his core beliefs. They didn’t despair. They didn’t give up. They didn’t leave each other. Even when everything was hopeless, they kept getting back up. If Utsuro was an antithesis for Gin, then Gintoki himself was the same for Utsuro. Utsuro believed that enough suffering could make anyone “hollow”. Yet no matter how much suffering that boy (Gintoki) when through, he didn’t break. He didn’t become hollow. While the story isn’t done yet, this was the main confrontation of Gin and Utsuro’s ideals and this was the first time since FS where Gintoki cleared his mind and truly fought like he always does, fighting for himself instead of fighting to escape, while Utsuro for the first time, lost that secure belief he always had. This was the true triumph for Gintoki over Utsuro. However, after that Utsuro decided to jump into the Altana, because he refused to accept what Gin said. He denied what he was seeing. He still defended that the humanity would destroy himself. That’s why he jumped. He wanted to win that final argument. He wanted to show that with him out of the picture, the humanity would still destroy themselves on their own. And he wasn’t completely wrong either. As in the next two years, people tried to revive him, gain his power and overall almost started another war. It comes down to Gintoki and the others to win that final gamble Utsuro made.

So yeah, I could probably write more but this is way too long already. Basically, Utsuro is not only a powerful, charismatic villain with an amazing voice, but he is the perfect villain to represent the opposite of everything Gintama stands for. He has such a strong backstory, that you can’t help but understand even the worst of his actions. And most importantly, unlike most final villains in other Shounens, he is connected to the main character more than anyone else. He isn’t just a random powerful guy. He is the only person who was closer to Gintoki than Takasugi was. He was the only villain the show could possibly get after Takasugi. That personal connection to Gin and the others is what makes it so compelling too.

I hope this will give some light on what Utsuro represent as a character. This might have been a bit of a mess, and I apologize for that, it was tougher than I expected. Thanks for reading.

[raphaelaan]

Gintama chapter 704 translation

Chapter 704: “There’s no such thing as a good guy with perm head”

Under the cut

Page 1

Katsura: Gintoki! Takasugi! Can you hear my transmission!! Where are you right now? Are you alright? We have taken over this ship and in the process of eliminating the rest of the enemy; they are at the state of complete annihilation. But the terminal’s berserk won’t stop! It’s just a matter of time until it blew itself up along with this plane, you have to escape quickly!

Page 2

Sakamoto: Zura! We can’t run either! If the terminal goes down, the Altana’s berserk will only get worse! That would spell the end for this planet as well! Those who are still alive have to deal with that thing somehow!

Katsura: But do we have any way of doing that?

?: There… is…

?: Can you please… allow me… handle the things here…

Katsura: Who is…

Katsura: You are….

Shouyou: This berserk happened because the sucking up far too great a quantity of Altana using the enemy’s weapon.

Page 3

Shouyou: Which means, if we can reverse its flow we can let the Altana collide with an equally strong force. Turn this great quanityty of Altana back to the Terminal by destroying the weaponry. Using the Altana inside of me as the trigger.

Shouyou: But even if we stop the berserk that way, this terminal won’t come out unscratched. Can I trust you with the evacuation, my prodigious student? I do not want to allow for more victims than there already are. If it’s you, then I can entrust this task.

Shouyou: All of you.... please… go and live.

Page 4

Shouyou: Just as you heard, please leave this place…

Shinpachi: Shouyou-sensei… you

Shouyou: //coughs blood

Shinpachi: …! Sensei!

Shouyou:  …….

Shouyou: How very ironic. That I, who bear eternity, am now trying to stretch what time I have left. And I understand very well, the meaning of why he gave what remained of that fragile life.  

Page 5:

Shouyou: I am a failure of a teacher, one who cannot even protect his students. That’s why I must protect the future that they weaved… I have to protect all of you.

Shouyou: My one thousand years of life might exist solely for this moment. This is the first time that I honestly think… I want to live a bit longer. Please give me more time, even if just one second.

Page 6:

Shinpachi: one second will not be enough. If one person can only bear that one second

Kagura: then if we combine the life of every one

Shinpachi: Then you will have enough time to at least see your student’s stupid face.

Shouyou: …! You all--!

Shinpachi: I’m sorry, Shouyou-sensei. As I thought we cannot leave just like that. Because if we do, we will no longer be Yorozuya.

Page 7

Shinpachi: Haven’t we said?

Kagura: That the Yorozuya will work until the payment is received?

Shinpachi: If there is a future, then we will not want someone to give it to us. We Yorozuya will doggedly take it by our own hands.

Page 8

Shouyou: All of you…

Kyuubei: Then we will accompany you.

Sacchan: It seems like in order to create an immortal, the cult has collected Altana from various planets.

Kyuubei: If we destroy all this, you can even hit your idiot student and not just look at him,

Shinpachi: Everyone!

Zenzo: Saying we’ll destroy it is fine and all but how are we supposed to do that? Let me tell you, the only type of cellphones I can use is the ancient ones.

Mobcop: We can no longer follow the current pace of modern technology

Zenzo: Is that something a person completely made of tech should say???

Nobume: If it’s cellphones then just leave it to me.

Sacchan: People and pieces of techs are the same. When they just don’t want to listen…

Page 9

Girls: You do this to them!

Zenzou: Ooooooiiiii you tomboy bitches!! This is no longer at the level of communication jamming! It’s now at the level where Siri would give it her all to shower you in boos and jeers!!

Tsukuyo: It will reach. If we gather this many feelings, it will certainly reach even without a phone.

Page 10

Shinpachi: This—this is--! A huge amount of Altana is flowing in!

Shinpachi: Shouyou-sensei, if you want to destroy it then this is the chance!

Kagura: Sadaharu! Protect Shouyou!

Shouyou: All of you… why… why…

Page 11

Hijikata: yo. You’re late, we almost left without you.

Gintoki: You guys…

Hijikata: Evacuating citizens is also the work of police force.

Kondo: My god, if there are unreasonably stubborn guys like you around, our work will get way harder.

Okita: Sorry but I’m not interested in kicking the bucket together. The only choice left is to go home, side-by-side.

Hijikata: Get up and let’s go.

Page 12

Katsura: Gintoki. Just a bit more. Ahead of that, sensei… and the Yorozuya will be there. If you have anything else to do, wrap it up quick.

Gintoki: Is that okay with you? Isn’t the prodigy of Shouka Sonjuku entrusted to make sure everyone come home safe?

Katsura: The evacuation is over, the only ones remaining is you troublemaker lot.

Gintoki: Zura… Takasugi is…

Katsura: Maybe sensei just doesn’t understand. Every time you troublemakers make a mess back then, there’s one more troublemaker who stepped up and wiped your asses. Isn’t that right Gintoki? So when it comes to Takasugi’s… to the final trouble the two of you stir up, the one who gotta wipe your asses later can’t move from this place.

Page 13

Gintoki: Zura…

Sakamoto: Dying or living, we’ll go together I guess… if it’s like this then there’s no choice but to come back alive. But don’t worry. I will come and save you, even from the deepest bowels of hell.

Sakamoto: That’s why go and make as great a fuss as you wish. Make a big one for his part too.

Page 14

Shouyou: Gintoki…

Page 15

Shouyou: The people here… for you they are what you are to me, aren’t they?

Page 17

Shouyou: That day… the eternal demon met you… met all of you and was able to become Yoshida Shouyou.

Page 18

Shouyou: Since that day… the small demon with such sorrowful eyes gained many meetings

Page 19

Shouyou: And was able to become Sakata Gintoki

Page 20

Shinpachi: Shouyou-sensei!!!

Page 22

Gintoki: Shouyou. I always wanted to show you. A lot of things happened since then. And I…

Page 23

Gintoki: I worked as Yorozuya with these guy.

Shouyou: Yes… I see it.

Page 24

Shouyou: Yorozuya. Sakata Gintoki. You have become… such a good man…

Page 26

Small Tama: Data transfer is completed. Good morning, Fuyou Iizerogou.

Page 27

Tama: This place is…

Small Tama:  This is Gengai-sama’s workshop. Ever since the war, you have been asleep for a very long time. I am your clone, Tamako, whose job is to gather data in your place during that time.

Tama: I’m sorry… I still… my circuits is still out of order. How long have I been asleep for?

Tama: Is this… Edo…?

Tama: No, right now this place is called Tokyo. After the last battle, Edo has seen many great changes and was reborn.

Page 28

Small Tama: Without everyone’s hard work, this Tokyo wouldn’t have come into existence. Yes… the world has regained peace.

Tama: And yet… it seems like the world that I know no longer exist. After that, what happened to everyone…?

Small Tama: The answer to that question is already inside of you.

?: -san… Tama-san…

?: I wonder when you will wake up and receive this data.

Tama: This voice... Shinpachi-sama? And is this the old Edo?

Shinpachi: Since that day, we still don’t know what we fought, with whom we fought. Or just what we lost and what we won.

Page 29

Shinpachi: But we returned home. To Edo. To the everyday life. And yet from the lonely smile I saw on Gin-san’s face that day, I feel that the amount of what we regained and what we lost…

Shinpachi: It seems… they won’t come back after all.

Page 30

Shinpachi: Aaaaaaaa!!! Where the hell are you sleeping Gin-saaaan! It stinks—I stepped on puke!! Just when I thought I’m not gonna be seeing your face for a while you went off and had a drink, didn’t you!!

Gintoki: Agh so noisy. This is my home. I can come back whenever I like and throw up wherever I like—gogogogoo

Shinpachi: Wait!! Don’t make more of a mes—gogogogo

Gintoki: And why are you sitting nonchalantly on the president’s seat

Shinpachi: The hell you’re talking about! The one who supported the Yorozuya while everyone’s gone is the leader! Didn’t you say you will start from the very bottom of the rungs?!

Gintoki: I didn’t say it. And didn’t you say you will start over, beginning from your glasses frame?

Shinpachi: I didn’t!! Why don’t you start over from your dad’s ballsacks?!

Gintoki: You start over from you dad’s glasses case

Shinpachi: That’s just dad’s glasses then!! And if you’re gonna sleep, sleep properly on the futon!!

Page 31:

Kagura: Don’t come into a lady’s room! How many times should I tell you this is no longer Gin-chan’s room! This is the room of the vice-president, who returned second after the president!

Shinpachi: Yeah… but vice-president, your president flew because of that kick as well...

Kagura: In all companies, presidents are nothing but decoration where short beards can grow. The real power usually belong to the strong ones, in the end the people with the most physical strengths hold the world in their palms.

Shinpachi: No… the super strong is not even super strong and not even the vice-president.

Kagura: Well, just he just won’t be responsible then just beat the responsibility into him as hard as you can.

Shinpachi: Even if the one doing it is a super-powered hercules it still can’t be done!!

Gintoki: Cut it out you two!! Just where is my place to belong now? Since it came to this, let’s just begin everything back from the markingssss----rruururururuu

Shinpachi: We’ll kill you, you bastard!!!

Shinpachi: …even so, I think the reason we can still be ourselves with nary a change like this is because there is three people and one dog here.

Page 32:

Otose: My, my… since it’s been two years I thought you all would have piled up enough money to pay the rent. But looking at those faces, seems like all you did these past two years are digging your noses.

Gintoki: I’m thinking about leaving the rent in the new president’s care.

Shinpachi: Don’t just push off that role when it benefits you…

Kagura: Alright, leave it to Leader! I’ll handle the right hole, Gin-chan handle the left. And then there’s Shinpachi.

Shinpachi: You bastards aren’t doing anything but picking noses, are you?!

Otose: I thought both Shinpachi and Kagura have grown up, but it seems like they all just went back to how they were when you returned.

Catherine: One spoiled apple would spoil the entire barrel, after all.

Gintoki: I’m more of the sweetness of canned fruits person than barrel person.

Gengai: I see. When it comes to canned stuff, the rot don’t spread out easily after all.  

Gintoki: Can the person one step away from rotting just stop talking?

Shinpachi: Even though she verbally abused everyone as usual, she doesn’t tell us the reason…

Umibozu: There’s no need to ask about such a thing, is there?

Page 33:

Umibozu: Then I’ll ask in return. What is the reason for me to come from across the universe and see you?

Kagura: Because you’re balding?

Umibozu: It doesn’t have anything to do with baldness.

Kagura: Or maybe that thing is balding.

Umibozu: I said it doesn’t have anything to do with baldness.

Umibozu: There’s no reason. There’s no reason for a family member to come and see the member of their family. Just as you need no reason to remain here and rebuild the Yorozuya. Same goes for your hell-raising big brother, he might come without no reason at all.

Shinpachi: And just like that… It is said that Umibozu-san’s back as he walked away looked a bit lonely and bald.

Otose: Well, whatever happened, I’m not going to complain as long as you pay the rent. With the world changing, is there no good stories to be heard?

Reporter: Behold, the rebuilding of the terminal has reached this stage.

Soyo: No matter how many disasters come knocking, as long as we have a heart that won’t give in we will be able to stand back up no matter how many times we’re knocked down.

Page 34

Soyo: That’s why, everyone, with me…

Reporter: With all due respect, Soyo-sama, but what we really want to hear is about the assassination of the previous leader Donald Zuramp. There have been some rumors that it was ordered by you to remove Donald Zuramp and gain power

Nobume: If the princess truly is someone who will assassinate people who stood in her way, does that mean you came here ready to die?

Reporter: Then, that rumor truly is real!

Shinpachi: They are the ones who rebuilt Edo that once again was filled with conflicts. Taking over what Zuramp (Katsura) –san  has started, Soyo-hime marvelously rallied the masses and rebuilt Edo. And loyally staying by her side is Nobume-san. No… not just her. Surely by their side, those people are also…

Page 35

Shinpachi: And then one more person that must not be forgotten about.

?: You fools! There is no way the great Donald Zuramp was done in by the likes of those girls! That man is alive! His soul has become a Heroic Spirit that protects this land! Do not forget that Donald Zuramp is always watching you. Must you stray from the righteous path and forgot your heart, he will come and strike you down with heavenly vengeance!

Katsura (?): Yes, this patriotic Heroic Spirit , ObaZ!!

Gintoki: And that’s the end. Katsura-san is dead.

Shinpachi: Don’t kill him off on top of taking over the narration!! And it’s not like he’s definitely Katsura-san even if it’s 100% Katsura-san!

Gintoki: That idiot’s as good as dead anyway. I’ll put an end to him. And what’s with the continuous grumbling, when will you stop?

Shinpachi: Did you hear that!! I’m so embarassed!

Page 36:

Shinpachi: I thought it would be nice to leave a recording for Tama-san.

Gintoki: Just because it’s the final chapter do you think you can wrap it up high-handedly with a narration? It’s long and boring, and there’s no need to give that idiot Katsura any pages. Tama’s and the reader’s eyes will fall off if this goes on. Here, let me take over for a bit.

Gintoki: Tama, there has been so many things that happened since then, I don’t even know where to begin. But there is one thing I want you to know…

Gintoki: that everyone is dead.

Shinpachi: Don’t just wrap it all up like that!!!

Gintoki: Whatever, it’s fine isn’t it. Everyone will someday die anyway.

Shinpachi: That’s too rough a stroke to draw! Surely Tama-san would want to know what happened after that!

Kagura: Gin-chan, it’s just as Shinpachi said. It’s sad if only Tama doesn’t know anything. I will tell everything that happened and everything I feel while she’s gone.

Kagura: The tamagoyaki is delicious.

Shinpachi: What did you decide to tell her? Goddamit! If we also include commentaries about breakfast, our final chapter is going to be even longer all the volumes of KochiKame!!

Kagura: After KochiKome ended, for some reason Jump felt a little lonely.

Shinpachi: We also don’t need to know your feelings after KochiKome ended!!

Kagura: Jump, too, dies.

Shinpachi: Don’t say here that it will die!! That will just create misunderstandings!

Page 37

?: Now have you beheld the truth? Without another peron’s eyes to look at them, human will fall into corruption and decay to the very final chapter.

Shinpachi: Hey, who’s saying that? It’s not me, you know.

?: This world needs an ‘eye’ that will cross through time and watch over the nation for eternity. The only one who can do it is this Supreme Heroic Spirit… no, this Patriotic Heroic Spirit, Obaz--

Gintoki: He’s coming this far just because we didn’t pay attention to him, oi.

Kagura: Even so, with this we wrapped up one person. Who will be next?

Shinpachi: Don’t work your hardest to make this an ‘everybody dies’ ending!!

Gintoki: And those are his final words.

Shinpachi: I am not dead yet!!!

Shinpachi: it’s okay, I’m not going to let them take over the narration. As you have seen above, the torch lit by the Zuramp administration passed down, and with it comes too the revival of the Shinsengumi.

Matsudaira: I want to say welcome home, but the place we returned to is not so soft as to allow those words. This is a battlefield. All your overflowing feelings and nostalgia better be thrown out right here.

Page 38

Matsudaira: And drink until you’re dead!!!

Shinpachi: there’s not even a second to breathe in their job. So that the tax money from the people doesn’t get wasted, they fought without rest day and night. And that is alright because they have their girlfriends by their sides. Beside successfully reviving the dojo and gaining her own shop, my sister who has become the face of Kabuki-cho, the one who used to fight Kondo-san’s advances to the bitter end… they are now…

Shinpachi: They now support each other both publicly and privately. Though I feel quite lonely, for the sake of my sister’s happiness I shall pass through myriads of battles to become a proper adult. I wonder if I can manage to do so someday…

Shinpachi: OO! Eat this adult tsukkomi!!!

Page 39

Shinpachi: So it’s you! The one who’s been stealing my identity and went on and on as you please about things that didn’t happen!! Just what are you lot thinking? Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you can run off to imaginary land just because this is the final chapter, goddamit!!

Shinpachi: Just like that, the moment I set eyes on my brother in law, I just wanted to tease him.

Shinpachi: Oi! Are you a psycho or something, you bastard? That’s not what you normally say to people’s faces!

Shinpachi: Big sis too, why are you supporting this fabricated final chapter??

Tae: Eh? But I’m not doing anything, you know? I’m just…

Tae: Ou, Gorilla. If you ever show your face in this shop ever again, I’ll make it so that you’d have to pay triple.

Shinpachi: Something super scary just came out as the narration!!

Kondo: I understand, Otae-sama. My wallet… no, this government’s treasure vault belongs to you. Oh yeah, and here’s the live ticket to Bz’s as forward payment.

Tae: Ah, Gorilla you are such a bad boy.

Kondo: Ah, no, no, I’m nowhere near Otae-sama’s level.

Shinpachi: It’s just a scene of corruption!!

Tae: I’m sorry… you must have been trying to hide it using narration.

Shinpachi: My tears flows free, unable to stop. As I thought, the only person I can entrust big sister to is—

Shinpachi: Like that’s true at all!!

Gintoki: Oi, you’ve used up three pages on that bullshit. What’re you going to do now, you morons really never changed.

Okita: I’m sorry danna, but isn’t that for the best? I don’t need such a thing as a fabricated ending, as long as I have this peaceful everyday life.

Gintoki: oooh, you said a noble thing, didn’t you. Now wrap it up in the next panel. Wrap it up by committing hara-kiri.

Page 40

Okita: The peaceful everyday life they regained. But for Shinsengumi it is only the beginning of a new battle. From here onward, the Memoirs of Shinsengumi will begin serialization! This is but a small preview.

Gintoki: Rather than ending, a new serial is being greenlit over there!!

Gintoki: Where’s the heck’s the next issue gonna be?! Because of our repeated ending scam offense this manga’s been kicked off Jump!

Okita: With new costume and a new beginning, Shinsengumi’s new fight is freshly beginning. And what is the identity of their mysterious new enemy?

Gintoki: It’s not new at all! I’ve just seen that face just now!! Don’t try to be sneaky and come out here as well!!

Okita: And what exactly is Shinsengumi’s new weapon…?

Okita: Yamazaki-kun, during the process of your rebirth, your personality has been split into 108 individuals…

Gintoki: Oiii!! What happened there Jimmy? He’s still in a situation that looks wholly troublesome!!

Okita: Now, will the Shinsengumi succed in protecting Edo from the disgusting idiot?

Okita: Being a vice-chief is quite troublesome, after all… Now I’m painfully aware of how hard it was for you. But… I will support Shinsengumi for your sake as well, Hijikata-san.

Page 41

Hijikata: In the end you’re fabricating stuff as well!!

Hijkata: What are you people doing, slacking off on your jobs?! Pay for your shame by committing hara-kiri simultaneously!!

Okita: Hijikata-san, this is the final chapter, y’know? We’re not going to get paid even if we work anyway. Look at Yamazaki over there. He’s doing mecha poses with the mecha Yamazakis.

Hijikata: But why??

Gintoki: Vice-chief, vice-chief. I get it, I get it. None of you have the talent to wrap things up, I understand that now. For now, here, just put this on. Alright, now strike a pose. Good. Now stay just like that.

Hijikata: Please wrap this up, will you?! Just why did you tell me to strike a pose? What were those eyes??

Gintoki: Shinsengumi is that.

Hijikata: Is what?? What kind of wrapping up is that?!

Page 42

Tae: Hijikata-san, don’t be so tense. Since it’s a rare thing for everyone to gather under one roof, why don’t you relax as well? Considering this is the final chapter…

Hijikata: There’s no such thing as a final chapter on a policeman’s job!! During the time we’re being stupid like this—

Kyuubei: I see… so throwing up a huge fuss and going berserk inside a shop is a policeman’s job, is it? Then, I, too, shall do my job.

Hijikata: Oh yeah, I remember this kind of thing happening back then, Kyuubei. Fine, bring it on. I held back because you’re a woman but now I know you’re much more than that. Now show me the dedication to your job!!

Kyuubei: A serving of fruits coming up, now open wide~

Hijikata: You’re a cabaret girl?????????

Tae: When I invited her to just come and play, she said she feel bad about it and decided to help out as well.

Kyuubei: I thought up of a way to serve the costumers without coming into contact with men. Like this, being the number one cabaret girl is not a mere dream for me.

Hijikata: Don’t put someone who appreciates their personal space far too much on customer service!

Tae: This, right here, is a fight as well. There’s a lot of cabaret clubs where people try to please the costumers by eliminating distances, but I hear in Yoshiwara it’s customary to first reject the costumer with a swipe of your graceful, flowing sleeves and make them more interested that way!

Page 43

Tsukuyo: Otae, the mission is complete.

Hijikata: Forget graceful flowing sleeves, this girl has no sleeve!!

Sacchan: Mugu—Ginsyaan staaaph

Hijikata: With her being here as well, I don’t know what you’re trying to pull anymore!!

Tsukuyo: Kagura, how have you been?

Kagura: Everyone came here after all.

Tsukuyo: Yes, everyone does

Page 44

Zenzo: Shoo, shoo! Hey, I came here because I was invited to visit but there’s no fuglies around! What’s the meaning of this?!

Gintoki: Here’s your order, please enjoy your stay.

Gintoki: Dang it, what a troublesome bunch. Coming around and gathering just because it’s the final chapter.

Tae: But with this we can wrap the whole thing up with everyone’s narration, right?

Shinpachi: uh, why are you trying to wrap things up. Everyone getting drunk and having fun together, that fits us just well doesn’t it.

Page 45

Shinpachi: Yes. Truly, nothing has changed. That might be the best words we can offer you.

Shinpachi: Come on, please hold it together.

Gintoki: Which part of me is not holding it together? If you want proof I can list al Dragon Ball’s villains for you right now.

Shinpachi: Uh, that offer is already proof you’re no longer holding it together. Doctor—gororororororo

?: Hei, lady. I want ten more portions of this meal.

Abuto: Oi oi, just take it slow and stop right there, will ya? We’re a poor-as-dirt organization with no money and no financial backing, you know? Be a bit mindful about your spending habits.

Kamui: I can’t help it, this place just have the best food. Plus, it’s better to fill up your belly before a war.

Abuto: A war? Like we have the money to do that.

Page 46

Kamui: Then delay the excitement for a bit, lady. Next time, we will come to consume this planet.

Abuto: my, my. We spent so much again.

Kamui: Even if we are broke when it comes to money, we have to be rich in dreams.

Abuto: What about your little sister?

Kamui: Is that even a question? Of course, I will defeat her.

Abuto: Ah you’re saying such a thing again. Even though when your little sister went out to look for knowledge during the last two years, you followed her around for quite a while.

Kamui: Another old man also did the same as me, didn’t he? Don’t play dumb, you idiot.

Katsura: Y-you have very good eyes to notice me, ahahaha! That’s right, the Heroic Spirit ObaZ will always be watching y--

Page 47

Sakamoto: It has been some times since I contacted you, how are you faring? Chintoki-kun, as always I’m still running around in space. As I thought, space is just the best. When I look out to the infinity stretched before me, petty stuff like all my bad feelings just packed their bags and left. Mantoki-kun should come and look around space with me next time.

Sakamoto: Now, the reason why I took up the brush this time is that there is something I must tell you. I promised that come hell or high water I will come and save you, but when I saw the broken terminal I had honestly thought “Oh, well, they’re dead lol”.

Sakamoto: I don’t mean to say this as mere consolation, but I believe the one who saved you was, without question, that man. After sacrificing his all to the Altana and was erased, he became a part of it and protected his students.

Page 48

Sakamoto: That’s why I don’t think there’s any reason for you to feel lonely. Without doubt your teacher is there, inside that planet, and always watching over you.

Sakamoto: To my dearest friend, Chinmanbuku-kun.

Sakamoto: P.S. I met Zura recently and heard that the remnant of Kiheitai is showing strange movements.

Katsura: Dragon’s veins?

Henpeita: Yes. I heard she continued her journey to visit every Dragon’s Veins opening in the land.

Katsura: Just who is she imitating by doing that….

Henpeita: I believe she must have been unable to forgive her own self who allowed Sakata Gintoki to bear the burden of Takasugi’s... of everything.

Page 49

Henpeita: Of course we are grateful, to be able to see his smile once more—the man who was trapped by death. And this time, this is her turn.

Katsura: ….

Katsura: Takasugi’s body was certainly swallowed by altana, but the possibility of him being reborn is not even one in a million. That miracle only happened because Utsuro was born from the Altana.

Henpeita: And that does not matter. Because this is Kiheitai’s atonement. Our cross to bear.

Katsura: Takechi, could it be you too….

Katsura: won’t give me any attention?

Sakamoto: I believe that something like a miracle doesn’t exist in this world.  

Page 50

Sakamoto: the things that happen in this world have a reason to be, and only happen because they must. That’s why I don’t think you being saved was a miracle, no.

Villager1: Why is in this kind of place…

Villager2: Did someone abandon it?

Villager3: It’s the work of the Dragon Vein God, the divine punishment of the Dragon Vein God!

Sakamoto: A teacher protecting his students can’t be called a miracle. It’s just how things are.  

Page 51

Tae: Oh, so you came after all.

Tae: It’s been some time since we meet our father together. We should report something to him.

Shinpachi: No…

Shinpachi: Back then, father looked up to the skies of Edo and lamented. And yet… even though this is that very same sky, it seems so different now.

Page 52

Shinpachi: That’s because I know now that everyone is also under this very sky.

Page 53

Shinpachi: It doesn’t matter if a cloud comes rolling in. I know that, inside our hearts, everyone is still here underneath my sky.

Page 54

Shinpachi: That’s why, Tama-san… Even if now you’re standing underneath an unknown sky, even if now you’re standing underneath a sky under which we no longer exist. Please don’t cry. Beneath your sky, by your side, we are always there.

Page 55

Shinpachi: That’s right. If you would kindly believe us, then it doesn’t matter what comes. Without fail we will break through the world, the era, and the panels to come and wipe your tears.

Page 56

Tama: Let’s go.

?: After that, those girls continue to live in this era. A world of technology where robots are at its peak prosperity. Humanity had their homes and jobs robbed from them by the robots, and in this new world a new main character appear.

?: Those girls lived happily, and humans became jobless. Everyone. Every last one.  

Page 57

Madao: If everyone is jobless then joblessness is no longer joblessness. Joblessness will become colorlessness. And then colorlessness will become happiness…

Tama: Hasegawa-san…?

Yorozuya: You’re trying to fabricate an ending too aren’t you??!!

Gintoki: You bastard! What kind of final chapter you’re trying to make Tamako believe?!

Kagura: Don’t just make up a story about the future as you please!!

Madao: No, you’re wrong! You’re wrong! It’s just I stopped being a hero and tried looking for jobs but no one would hire me!! That’s why I was just telling Matako-chan that it’s good thing the world has become one where everyone is jobless!!

Tamako: I’m sorry. It seems like there is an error in my data.

Page 58

Gintoki: Yoo, what’s with that half-asleep face you’re making there, Tama? Well whatever, we’re going out on an emergency job so you keep your eyes open until we’re back, got it? There’s no need for us to wipe those tears, eh?

Kagura: Gin-chan! What’s the emergency job again?

Gintoki: Eh…? What is it…

Shinpachi: Why are you forgetting it even if the work is an emergency??

Kagura: What was it…

Gintoki: What was it…

Gintoki: Ah, well, it doesn’t matter. Because we are--

Page 59

--Yorozuya”

[suchine-toki]

About the gintaladies in Silver Soul arc

Within the framework of International Women's Day, I would like to talk about something that had been on my mind for a long time.

I appreciate that Sorachi has dared to get out of certain canons that exist in the industry when it comes to creating his female characters. While it’s true that he used some stereotypes, after all the important thing is the development of them.

In this post, I wanted to refer to what happened with the women of the series in the final arc. I felt they didn’t get deeply involved with the plot. Princess Soyo, for example, represented an important political power, however, her role was reduced to being protected by Nobume. In turn, the role of Nobume (apart from the one mentioned previously) was to give information to the Yorozuya at the beginning.

But at least that was something. Otose offered herself hostage, Tae was saved, Kyuubei saved Tae, Tsukuyo saved Gintoki, and Sacchan... what did she do again?

See, I'm not trying to say their actions were useless or had no weight, but they didn’t feel especially relevant to the plot, rather to fulfill the “quota” of giving them a moment and that’s it. Other women like Mutsu and Matako, important figures within their respective groups, were shown fighting... and... fighting ya know. In general, what was done with them was to reestablish the same motivations that were already known, without taking any particular turn (although I must admit the latter wasn’t exclusive to the female characters).

Different is the case of Tama, whose sacrifice was moving and impacted on the series of events. Kagura, being the female protagonist, had more time to show, for example, her long-awaited family reunion in better terms.

That’s my impression with the first part. It’s not the best, it’s not the worst either. However, in the second part of the arc, things become more... problematic so to speak. Those who don’t get the short end of the sitck are Soyo, who reaches greater political relevance (great!) and Nobume, who continues to protect her in her position as bodyguard. But, in the absence of Gintoki, the role of the other women was to think about him. There were romantic undertones even with KAGURA, who not only remained a minor, but had established a daughter/younger sister relationship with him. And yes, I’m aware it wasn’t the first time that happened, but seeing Gintoki with her bra on his face, like a cliche romantic comedy, was unnecessarily gross. It seemed that, in the end, Sorachi was more interested in using the female characters to try to please all fans of all pairings instead of... making them important in the story. It's not about thinking “uH, roMance, bAd,” but if a certain dynamic develops in a certain way, it’s not right to throw the female character to the next ship in a condescending act. At one point, women occupied important positions of power, but it took a back seat in favor of the latter.

One of Kagura's goals in undertaking her journey was to restore Sadaharu to his original state. This is also overshadowed by the fact that Gintoki was traveling around. Even worse, she doesn't achieve her goal through her own effort: Sadaharu returns to his original state on his own.

The intervention of Tae, Kyuubei, Tsukuyo and Sacchan in the second part lies in torturing Gintoki in a strange room, giving him a hand, and destroying a power source while saying how strong women are. Yey.

And well, this is what I think in broad strokes about what happened with the women of the series in the final arc. This came out a little longer than expected, but it was a topic I wanted to talk about for some time. I insist that I don’t consider their actions to be completely irrelevant or that they contributed nothing, that would be a mistake. But their contribution to story fell short on what would be expected of them.

[alexiethymia]

OkiKagu and Protection

Ok, this is probably the last one. Not trying to prove they’ll be canon or anything, but there are a lot of things I like about their dynamic and this is one of them. 

The pattern started with Kirie and Kagura, then Kagura sort of calls back to it when she tries to cheer him up about how Sougo protected both Soyo and her, then if you count Nobume and Kagura when the three of them tried to fight Utsuro. 

Thrice there’s been a situation where Sougo protects two girls, and each time Kagura has always been one of them. I’m not gonna claim that Sougo has protected her more times than he has protected almost any other major character, but it’s been consistent, especially when you also count him saving her from falling of the cliff. It’s also not to paint Kagura as a damsel-in-distress because she is badass, and all three of those instances, she has fought tooth and nail. It makes me recall when Kagura said she didn’t want to be a burden to him and he didn’t want to to be indebted to her, and I think it’s symbolic because that’s exactly what happened.

For all of the times Okita has protected her life, I think Kagura has done the same thing, if not more important, by protecting his soul. It sounds cheesy I know.

But I think Okita is constantly torn between being a killer and a protector. And it is so difficult for him because he doesn’t shun his killer side, but utilizes it precisely because he wants to protect. However, I think he realizes himself that it’s so easy to get lost in that side of his, even as sometimes he is ashamed of it. I think he was bothered for example when Kirie was looking at him with such hateful eyes as a murderer, even as if he was acting nonchalant, and how Soyo-hime looked at him too. It’s telling when he calls Nobume a ‘murderer’ at one point because I think that was him projecting.

Where does Kagura come into this? For all that Sougo is older and Kagura is younger, I think she’s a lot more insightful and Sougo I think is a bit emotionally-stunted. For all of their similarities and their similar enormous physical strength, their fundamental natures are different. Sougo said it himself. He’s a coward and sadists are sadists because they can’t handle the heat. Add to that his cynicism. In contrast to that, Kagura isn’t really a sadist. She’s naive and ‘weak’, but precisely because of that, she is strong, because she doesn’t give up and doesn’t give up on people. For all of Sougo’s outward ego, I think it’s clear that he hates himself a little, and I think it’s wonderful that it is the same person who regularly beats down that enormous ego and constantly insults him is the same person who reaffirms his role as a protector.

Because that’s what Kagura does and has done for him. Since that first incident with Kirie, she was an outsider who wanted to get to the bottom of things. She’s the one to find him. She couldn’t believe Sougo could kill someone in cold-blood and she’s proven right and throughout that incident Kirie changes as well.

 Sougo’s fight with Kamui and how it links to Kamui’s fight with Kagura was wonderfully done as well. Here’s someone who’s like a mirror of him and who tells him, you didn’t come here to protect anyone, you came here because you were drawn to the blood, you’re a killer - just like me. But it’s Kamui’s mirror, his sibling, Kagura, who tells him otherwise. She finds him once again. No, your actions protected not just one, but two girls that day. She constantly reaffirms his role as a protector, as a policeman, and not as a killer (funny because of that pep talk he ends up donning the faced a crazed serial killer anyway). For all that Kagura meant to thank him through her unspoken words, I think it was Sougo who felt most grateful in that moment. She’s also the one to reassure him that no, Soyo-chan doesn’t hate him. Two less girls look upon Sougo with fear or like a killer through some intervention by Kagura.

And the last incident where she saves him from himself again was when she got in between his fight with Nobume. Nobume is in a way Sougo’s mirror, but Nobume is in a way also Kagura’s mirror, which is why she understands. As someone who constantly has to repress her Yato side, she understands the both of them, and her interference pays off. It’s her empathy that breaks the stand-off.

I love their playful and childish interactions, but it’s moments like these that make me really intrigued about their dynamic. I think the line overlaying their scene, as narrated by Yamazaki, in the last episode of the Farewell Shinsengumi arc perfectly encapsulates them, ‘saying goodbye to the people who have supported us all this while’ because underneath the rivalry, at the core of their relationship is that bond of trust (as much as they will vehemently deny it). This time around it is Okita who finds her - to say goodbye likely - but she surprises him yet again, because she won’t let him.

Rivals, or something more, I like their relationship. It’s up to Sorachi-sensei how they’ll end up but I do hope for a final scene between them in the manga at least, because I really do believe, no matter the nature of their relationship, Kagura is as important to Sougo as a character, as Sougo is as a character to Kagura. (Though in my honest belief, with shipper goggles on though, I think Sougo already has feelings for Kagura though I don’t think he realizes he has them).

[rike-with-love]

A wedding fit for them

Summary: Okikagu week 2018 day 7: Song Inspired

Pairings: Okikagu

Rating: T for bad language

Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama or it's characters, Sorachi Hideaki does. I only own this story.

Author’s notes: I have a link to my fanfiction masterlist on my profile. Please check it out for more chapters and fics!

A wedding fit for them

Oh, without my love, I'd be incomplete

And without my love, I'd be all empty

So, without my love, I would not be me

The Crash – Sugared

It was hard to breath, he felt like suffocating. His hands felt itchy, making him want to crawl out of his own skin. Sougo didn't like to be put on the spot like this. Every person in the room was giving him glances and smiles. It felt like they were giving him some kind of approvement. He didn't need anything like that from them. Only one person mattered to him. Her approvement and smile was all he needed.

Sougo loosened up his cravat a little, hoping to ease his growing nervousness. He exhaled deeply. Even the damn suit he was wearing felt too tight, uncomfortable. Sougo saw Hijikata approaching him with a steady step. His presence wasn't what Sougo needed at that moment, not even a little bit.

”Nervous?” Hijikata asked, sporting the same smile like everyone else.

”Shut up Hijibaka-san.”

He huffed. ”I figured you would be.”

Sougo clenched his jaw and turned his back on Hijikata. ”I don't know what you're talking about. How about you just go and drop dead already.”

Hijikata laughed a little. That was new for Sougo. Was his situation such an amusement for the mayonnaise-freak, he thought. ”Sougo, it's completely normal to be a little nervous,” Hijikata said and prepared to leave. ”Just, don't get cold feet. Otherwise, things could get messy.”

Sougo rolled his eyes at Hijikata's words. Why would he get cold feet, he asked himself. Sougo hadn't been this sure about anything in his entire 24 years of life. He just hated the feeling of people watching him, watching them, like they had the right to witness something that was mean to be private.

Sougo stood at the altar, eyes roaming around the church filled with people, some he knew, some he didn't. He didn't see Gintoki anywhere, which made sense. She had told him that both of her dads were going to walk her down the aisle.

She had even ordered him to get a best man, someone to stand by him at the altar, someone to make sure he wouldn't try to escape. He had snorted at her joke, and she had punched him, hard. After that Sougo did as she said and got himself a best man, actually, two. He asked Kondo to be his best man and the gorilla insisted that Hijikata should be one too. After some weepy pleading, Sougo had obliged.

Sougo saw his best men standing a little further away from him, casually chatting with each other. Why he couldn't be like that, all casual and relaxed, Sougo wondered. He wasn't second guessing marrying her, but something felt off. Sougo shoved a hand in his pocket and felt the crumbled piece of paper he had been staring for hours last night. ”Tsk.” He shoved the paper even deeper and shrugged his arms to get rid of the annoying feeling.

The time was nearing in, the beginning of the ceremony was moments away. Sougo felt more anxious than before, he hated the feeling. He had to do something about it, quickly. And Sougo knew exactly what he had to do, he had to see her. ”Oi, Kondo-san! I'll be right back.”

Hijikata and Kondo turned to Sougo. ”Where are you going Sougo?” Kondo inquired and Hijikata made his way to stand next to the groom.

”Yeah, where are you going Sougo?” Hijikata asked.

Sougo saw what they were thinking, they thought he was going to escape. ”Just let me go, I'll be right back,” he said, pushing his voice to be as convincing as possible.

Hijikata and Kondo shared a knowing look. ”Not gonna happen, Sougo,” Hijikata said firmly as Kondo crossed his arms and nodded deeply.

Sougo inhaled deeply to withstand their utter stupidity. If he would want to ditch the wedding, he would be gone already, he wasn't stupid. If his best men weren't going to let him through, he had only one thing left to do. ”You morons don't leave me much of a choice here.”

Kondo and Hijikata shared another look and Sougo saw his change. The captain tackled both of his superiors down with ease. All those fights with her had thought him a thing or two about sneak attacks and tackling. Sougo ran through the aisle, masterfully ignoring the calls of his best men. As Sougo pushed the church doors open and disappeared from sight, Hijikata grabbed a radiophone. ”Everyone, code RED!”

”Yare, yare...I even had faith in Soda-kun.”

”WHAT? How dare he do this to my precious daughter?”

”He's mine, I'll kill him.”

”No! We insist, let us kill him.”

Hijikata sighed deeply at the crazy answers he got. ”NO! Our job is not to kill him! Just capture him for god's sake,” he said.

”...”

”...”

”Can I kill him afterwards then?”

”Sure...if she doesn't kill him first.”

*

*

Sougo ran in the hallway of the church, eyes roaming, looking for a way out. He wasn't aware of the code RED that he had triggered. There was going to be a couple of unwanted hinders on his way to her.

Sougo ran into a group of women on the second floor, dressed for the occasion. He stopped on his tracks, sensing trouble coming on his way. Two wielded katanas, two flashed their kunais and one pointed her naginata at him. ”What's up bitches?” was Sougo's way to open up their conversation.

”We are the squad RED and we are here to claim your life,” Nobume said, her voice being as soft as she was talking about puppies or gardening.

”Nobume-san! We are not to kill him, capturing him was our order,” Kyubei said firmly.

”But he's such a dickless coward!” Sarutobi shouted. ”He's nothing like Gintoki, his dic-.”

”STOP IT Sacchan!” a blushing Tsukuyo screamed.

”Come on now ladies, get it together,” Otae said and tightened her grip on her weapon. ”Let's do this.”

Sougo was surprised, but not even slightly scared of them. He was unarmed and he had no desire to fight with any other woman than his fiancée. There was only one option left, run. ”Quit your yapping, I'm spoken for. Don't you ugly, fat-”

”GET HIM!” Otae shouted.

Sougo ducked from the first wave of kunais flying towards him. Nobume and Kyubei attacked from both sides, but Sougo was faster. He dodged and the two samurais clashed swords with each other. Another wave of kunais came and few swings from Otae.

Sougo tried his hardest to find an opening to run while dodging like a mad-man. Then he saw it. Yamazaki was walking towards them and Sougo noticed a huge window right behind him. ”YAMAZAKI!” he roared, startling the poor man.

Sougo sprinted towards Yamazaki while dodging kunais and crazy women. ”Yes, Okita-taichou!”

”You have a bazooka shoved up your ass, right?” Sougo shouted across the hall.

”I always do captain!” Yamazaki answered, his voice cracking up a bit as Sougo and squad RED was getting closer and closer to him.

”Hey bastard! You'll have my spear shoved up so far in your ass that you can taste the metal” Otae shouted with blood lust in her voice.

”Yamazaki! Shoot that window behind you!” Sougo ordered, almost reaching the badminton champion.

”W-what? Why?”

Sougo ran past Yamazaki, almost reaching the window.

”NOW BAKAZAKI!”

A second later the window shattered up from Yamazaki's bazooka. Almost simultaneously Sougo reached the window and leaped out of it. The church was two stories high and the fall wasn't going to be pretty. As Sougo dropped down from sight, Yamazaki felt horror all over his body. ”OKITA-TAICHOU!”

Yamazaki and the entire squad RED rushed to the edge of the huge hole that used to be the window. They saw Sougo on the ground, standing and smiling at them. He was cheerfully flipping his graceful middle finger at the squad of murderous women. ”Thanks Zaki! Later!” he said.

”YOU'RE SO DEAD!”

Sougo had landed softly on the ground, something he had learned from her. She had tought him to utilize trees, bushes or something like that when falling down. Sougo thanked her in his mind and focused on his mission to get to her. He took a quick look around, recognizing the place to be the back garden of the church. This is the right direction, perfect, he thought.

The squad RED had disappeared from the ”window”, he figured that they were coming after him from a different direction. Sougo dusted his black suit from all the dirt. He noticed a couple of holes on the jacket. She's not going to like this...he thought.

*

*

Sougo started running again, but he didn't get very far. This time he was blocked by a bat-shit crazy idiot, also known as her brother. ”Well, well! If it isn't my so-called bro-in-law!” Kamui said with that creepy happy smile of his. ”You look like shit.”

Sougo slowed down and stopped moving, leaving some distance between them. ”You too rat-tail? Why the hell are everyone being so clingy today?”

Kamui snorted. ”I'm doing this for my sister, not for you weakling.”

Sougo hissed, Kamui still wasn't his favourite person despite almost being part of the same family. ”Listen BRO! I have something better to do than looking at your dumb face.”

Kamui cocked an eyebrow. ”Heh, I'm not sure can I resist killing you...maybe I didn't hear the order correctly,” he said and licked his lips, murderous intent dripping from his voice.

”What are these orders everyone are babbling about?” Sougo inquired and frowned his brows.

”Code RED.”

”Explain idiot.”

”Nope.”

Sougo sighed. He was about to explode to Kamui for wasting his time, but he got distracted. Small rocks near him started jumping. Something was coming, something huge. It's them...they're fast, Sougo thought to himself.

”Okay bro! Prepare to die!” Kamui gloated with a smile and jumped at Sougo with his umbrella ready to strike. Again, Sougo knew how to dodge. He had experience with fighting a Yato from countless times. Sougo had fought against her and Kamui separately and once he even agreed to take on both siblings at the same time. Sougo lasted a few good minutes against them, but then he got beaten up so badly that he doesn't want to think about it much.

”BASTARD!” one of the angry women shouted. The squad RED was reaching him. Sougo knew he couldn't win this fight with dodging. This was the right time to use his wit. Kamui kept launching at Sougo, making him the top nuisance to get rid off. Then Sougo saw the answer approaching him with blue hair flying wildly.

”OI! CRAZ-uh, I mean NOBUME!” Sougo yelled and jumped away from Kamui. ”Guess what?” Kamui stopped for a second, curious about his opponents shouting.

”Don't speak to me sadistic monster.”

”But I have something to tell you, or rather Kamui here has something to tell you!” Sougo said with a grin. Kamui and Nobume locked eyes, each of them feeling equally confused. The squad was only few meters away from Sougo and he needed to start running soon, so went on with his plan.

”It was Kamui who ate all your donuts last night!” (Sougo was actually right, he just thew a lucky guess up in the air). Nobume's eyes flashed, something ignited inside her. The blue-haired samurai charged at the Yato with full speed. They clashed their weapons, and something in Kamui's eyes changed. Sougo recognized it in a heartbeat, it was the same look that he had when he looked at her. It was the look of holy-shit-you're-strong-let's-fight-all-day-n-night-long.

Sougo's mission was a success as he had managed to drop two pursuers off his tail. The rest of the squad RED was trying to get Nobume and Kamui off each other.

Sougo ran again, he knew he was almost there. Actually he could see the small building in a small distance, the bride's private house. The pure sight of the building eased his heart greatly.

Unfortunately, Sougo's challenges weren't over just yet. The worst was walking towards him...not one, but two angry daddies. Umibouzu and Gintoki were glaring at him with the intent to kill. Sougo was baffled, why the hell everyone were out to get him. The only thing he was trying to do was-.

”OI!” Gintoki thundered. ”Where do you think you're going Sorbet-kun?”

”It's Sougo, Danna, or should I call you Dadda?”

”You better shut up if you want to live another day,” Umibouzu warned him.

Sougo rubbed his right temple. How was he supposed to get past these two? Umibouzu was the most feared alien hunter in the whole damn galaxy and Gintoki was even crazier than her brother and father together.

Umibouzu and Gintoki moved closer to him, step by step. Sougo came to the conclusion that shock-value was his only change. So he thought of the most horrendous things to say to a girl's father(s).

”Danna, baldie, there's something I want to get of my chest...” Sougo said and made his face as innocent as possible. Gintoki and Umibouzu swallowed his bait and gave him the change to speak with their hearts open to hear whatever bothered Sougo.

”Sometimes China likes it when I **** **** **** and then **** **** ****, harder each time. Like the other night she **** **** and then I **** ****. Begging me to **** **** **** **** **** whipped cream **** **** **** you know how it is,” Sougo said with a straight face, internally cracking up.

Gintoki and Umibouzu transformed instantly into statues. The weren't moving, not even breathing. Sougo's words had transported their souls into the after-life. Another plan, another perfect succession, he thought and smirked.

Sougo ran once again and soon he was near the building. ”DON'T DO IT SOUGO! DON'T RUN AWAY!” Hijikata yelled from a distance. Sougo turned around and quickly ducked from a rain of bullets, kunais, katanas, daddy tears and bazooka rockets. The whole damn squad RED was there, almost reaching him. Sougo dashed to the front door of the building and hastily banged the door.

”I'm coming, I'm coming!” a voice said from inside. The door opened. ”Huh? Sou-” Kagura managed to say before Sougo rushed them both inside the house and slammed the door close. He locked the door behind him and turned to face her. Kagura had a beautiful white wedding dress on, puffy, princessy, traditional. The sight of her made his heart skip a beat.

Kagura saw him panting heavily, jacket partly ripped, face full of scratches. ”You? Wha-” Kagura stuttered with worry, but she was cut of by him holding her. Sougo had hurried to take her in his arms, squeezing her tightly against him. ”Oh, what's wrong chihuahua?” she asked and gently let her hands slide around his waist.

”I*mumble mumble*,” Sougo...well mumbled against her vermillion hair that was done half-up, half-down.

”What?” Kagura asked with a teasing voice.

Sougo pulled his head back to look into her sparkly blue eyes. He gently pressed his forehead against hers. Sougo cupped her cheeks and looked quite bashful, which was something brand new for Kagura. ”I missed you.” Kagura's eyes softened, almost teared up. He never said stuff like that to her, which only made this moment that more special.

”Okay, I missed you too,” Kagura giggled. ”But why are you here-aru? It's bad luck for the groom-”

Kagura's words were cut short by an endless banging on the door. She frowned her brows and glanced at the door. ”They have been acting crazy all day...they even tried to stop me from coming here,” Sougo said and dropped his hands from her cheeks to her shoulders. ”They were talking all kind of nonsense like code RED or something.”

”They? Code RED?” Kagura repeated and looked at Sougo straight into his eyes. ”But, you were coming here, yes?”

”Uh, yeah. Why? Do you know what this code RED is?” Sougo asked.

Oh, did Kagura knew what code RED was? Well she had invented the code RED so she knew exactly what it meant. ”KAGURA-CHAN! OPEN UP!” Umibouzu called from the door.

”Wait here, I'll handle them,” Kagura said and passed Sougo, sweetly brushing his arm and shoulder with her hand. He loved those small nuggets of affection she gave him, he was simply addicted to them. Kagura stomped to the door and unlocked it. She opened the door, glanced quickly at Sougo and then went outside, closing the door behind her. Sougo's curiosity woke up from her mysterious behaviour. He decided to eaves-drop through the door.

”Kagura-chan, are you alright?” Otae asked.

”No, I want to know what's going on here, yes?”

”Kagura, I hate to be the one telling you this, but...” Gintoki began.

”But what?”

”Hijikata alarmed us of code RED.”

Kagura crossed her arms over her chest, looking mad as hell. The whole squad had to take a step back out of her intimidation. ”Well, Mayora. Explain the situation, why did you made the call?” Kagura asked like she was the grand major of an army.

Everyone turned to look at Hijikata. ”Me, Sougo and Kondo-san were standing near the altar when Sougo suddenly said that he would be right back,” he explained.

”And? What else?”Kagura asked.

Hijikata felt her piercing gaze and he had to swallow. ”Sougo didn't tell us where he was going...” he said, his answer making Kagura seem even more frustrated. ”Then he tackled us down and ran away.”

Every single person went silent, waiting for Kagura's reaction. She took a deep breath, preparing to tell the whole squad a piece of her mind.

”Mayora, are you stupid or did mayonnaise finally melt your brain?” Kagura asked calmly, making Sougo chuckle quietly behind the door. ”How does that mean that he's going to ditch our wedding?”

(”What...ditch the wedding? Is that what code RED means?”)

”Uh, no...but-”

”Shove that but up your butt Hjijbaka!” Kagura shouted, quieting the vice-commander down.

”The code RED was created if the Sadist would try to run away. He's not as stupid as Mayora, he wouldn't say that he had somewhere to be...he would just go, quietly and unnoticed. If he would have wanted to leave...he would be long gone already.” Sougo listened, amazed of how well she knew him, and baffled by the purpose of code RED.

Hijikata felt embarrassed by his lack of trust in Sougo. ”Kagura-chan, I'm sure Toshi was trying his best,” Kondo said and patted the vice-commander's back. Kagura knew that he did try, she just got carried away by her emotions.

”I guess...” she said. With that a calm atmosphere started to form slowly around Kagura and her squad.

”Kagura,” Kamui called all of a sudden.

”Mmh?”

”Can I still kill him?”

”...”

”...”

”...everyone, run,” Gintoki whispered.

Kagura went full bridezilla on everyone, making each and every one of them escape from her wrath. She was ready to forgive the false alarm of code RED, but the sugestion of harming her fiancée even further pushed her off the edge.

*

*

Kagura returned inside, eyes searching for Sougo. ”Sadist? Where are you?” she called and walked into the small kitchen of the house. He wasn't there. ”Hey, Sadist! Everyone's gone already!” Kagura said and decided to look from the bedroom.

There he was, sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes fixated on the empty wall in front of him, arms resting on his knees, hands crossed under his chin.

There was something wrong, she could tell right away, rather anyone could tell. Kagura hurried next to him. ”Hey?” No answer, eyes not wavering from the wall. She squeezed his thigh. ”Look at me, yes.”

Sougo's gaze shifted to her. His eyes were watery, not teary, but almost. Kagura could see he was very upset about something. ”Sougo, what's wrong?” He sniffed once and breathed through his mouth, trying to speak up. Kagura pulled his face gently to see hers. ”Tell me.”

”The code RED...did you...” Sougo stopped in middle of a sentence to take a breath. He cleared out his throat. ”Did you think that I would leave you at the altar?”

His eyes were so serious that it hurt her heart, ripping it apart to tiny strings. Kagura felt awful, why did she even think that he would do something like that. Then she remembered why the code RED even came to be.

”I, uh. I just...” Kagura mumbled, making Sougo feel physically sick. He didn't understand where she had gotten such an absurd idea. ”Well, you've been acting weird. As our wedding were getting closer you seemed to become more anxious.”

”That's true,” Sougo said, because it was true. Kagura pushed her hands to her puffy lap, his answer slightly startling her. ”I'm really anxious and nervous, I felt like I was suffocating in that church, all the people were ogling at me. So annoying.”

”So you don't want to get married. Okay...okay...” Kagura said, trying to keep her voice as normal as possible.

Sougo scooted closer to her. ”What does my anxiety has to do with marrying you?” as soon as the question rolled off his lips, he heard how dumb he sounded. ”Dammit, that came out wrong.”

Kagura looked away from him, still uncertain of his willingness to marry her. ”Then say it better, yes.”

Sougo got off the bed and kneeled in front of her, finding the eye contact he so desperately had missed. ”I want to marry you Kagura, there's no doubt in my mind.” Her heart fluttered at his words. Even her toes curled up in her white high-heels.

Kagura cupped his cheeks and smiled sweetly. ”Then why are you such a nervous pile of jelly?”

”I hate the wedding,” he said. Kagura's eyes widened and her nostrils vibrated.

”What? Are you saying I did a bad job at planning it??? Oh, you better take that back or I'll-” she muttered and pushed Sougo's cheeks together, making him a balloon fish.

Sougo took her hands of her face and cupped them in his hands. His hold was tender, it calmed her down immediately. ”I mean I hate the whole idea of a big wedding. I hate it when people stare at you, looking all happy and proud, like they knew something about our relationship,” he explained, grunting at times.

”Are you that shy chihuahua?” she teased.

”No, I just think that some things should be private, you know?”

Kagura was stunned. Mr. Attention was suddenly being very coy, but she found it very cute. ”Things like what?” she asked with a little twinkle in her eye.

Sougo sighed a little and digged his pocket a bit. He picked out a crumbled piece of paper and presented it to Kagura. ”Things like these.”

”Old papers?”

”No! These are my vows I wrote to you.”

Kagura's eyes widened, she wasn't expecting him to write vows, they hadn't even talked about it. She thought they were going to go with those simple 'I dos'. ”I-I'm sorry, I didn't write anything,” she confessed, feeling so disappointed in herself.

”Oh it's okay,” Sougo said and ripped the paper apart, making Kagura gasp. He looked at her and tilted his head.

”Haha, yeah...good. Now I never know what you wrote. It's fine, I didn't need to know. It's only fair since I didn't even-”

”Did you honestly think I didn't memorize my vows?” His question stopping her rambling completely.

Kagura wiggled a little from side-to-side, she was like a kid who wanted her birthday present right away. Sougo read her like a book. ”Do you, maybe want to hear them?”

Kagura looked up and acted like she didn't care. ”Whatever, do as you like.”

Sougo shook his head and cleared his throat again. Kagura's smile went from radiant to nirvana. It really didn't matter what he was going to say, Kagura knew she was going to cry.

”Kagura, (her breath hitched as he only got her name out of his mouth) I just wanted to tell you, that you are my partner, my perfect counterpart, my matching puzzle piece, my tabasco sauce.” (giggling)

”I don't want to go back to that life, when you weren't there with me. (she squeaked adorably) Since we were mere brats beating each other up, I knew you were something special. You gave my broken heart the aid I needed, you filled the emptiness I had in me.” (Please stop already...*starts crying)

”Almost there,” Sougo said and continued.

”Most importantly, I can be myself around you. I don't need to be tough, thou I am, hehe (stupid). I can share everything with you, and I love that. I guess I only have one thing left to say. I love you with all of my heart. My China, my Kagura, My love.”

Kagura's back fell down on the bed like a sack of potatoes. Sougo got up to check up on her. ”China?” he called as he hovered over her. Kagura covered her eyes, unable to hide her face that was red as her favourite cheongsam. ”Did you like it?”

Kagura slammed her hands on his neck. ”Did I like it? What a stupid ass question,” she huffed and pulled him into a deep kiss. Feeling her lips again, it felt perfect for Sougo. (He actually got love-sick from just one night of separation from Kagura. They tried to do the traditional one night apart before the wedding day).

After the kiss she wiped away her tears. ”I loved it, you were like some freaking poet.”

Sougo smiled and climbed off her. She sat up too and nudged closer to him. ”Now that was some mushy shit,” he joked, making her laugh a little. Then he got a little quiet.

”Those are the things I don't want everyone to see or hear, but if you want, I'll read them at the altar.”

”Don't,” Kagura said without hesitation. ”I don't want anyone else to hear them, your vows.”

Sougo looked at her, amazed by her reaction. ”Those words are only for me, so let's keep it that way, yes,” Kagura said happily. Sougo thought that could he even love her more. Yes, yes he could.

”Speaking of altar, we better get going. Everyone's waiting,” Sougo said and glanced at Kagura. She had a very focused look on her face. Then, all of a sudden, something lit up in her eyes. ”What's that look China?”

Kagura turned to him with the most beautiful shit-eating grin on her face. ”I have an idea on how to make this wedding more fitting for us,” Kagura said and excitedly clapped her hands together.

”I'm all ears.”

*

*

Kagura stood between her two fathers, heart jumping from joy and a smile to match that feeling. Gintoki and Umibouzu both offered their arms to her and she gladly accepted. ”Are you ready Kagura?” Gintoki asked with a kind smile.

She took in a calming breath. ”Yeah-aru.”

The church doors opened and all the guests stood up for the bride. Kagura examined all the people staring at her, some were a little teary eyed, some were nodding and smiling with all their heart. Kagura enjoyed the attention, but she didn't really need it. There was only one smile she truly wanted and it was waiting for her at the end of the aisle.

Sougo had seen her dress already, but it didn't matter. Watching her walk to him, smiling and shining like the sun, it was enough to take his breath away. He didn't even bother to think how lame it was to feel so gooey. Kagura hugged both Gintoki and Umibouzu before she stepped on to the altar to stand with him, face to face.

The guests sat down and finally the ceremony began. The priest spoke about love, his words made one delicate flower(gorilla) tear up, he was so damn proud of Okita. Gintoki and Shinpachi fought their hardest to keep a normal face, but Kagura saw how their lips were trembling. They were happy for Kagura, despite her strange taste in men.

”Now, this lovely couple here, this would be the time to read your vows.” Kagura leaned to whisper something into the priests ear. He had a somewhat disappointed look on his face, yet understanding. The priest cleared his throat. ”So, this couple doesn't want to share any words of their own, so we'll proceed to the next part.

Couple of the quests look a little bit surprised, but luckily got over it pretty quickly. ”Now, does anyone have something against this union, you may speak now or forever hold your peace.” Sougo didn't even spare a look at the guests, but Kagura did. No-one in the crowd seemed to do or say anything...but there indeed was someone wanting to say something.

Kamui was a stubborn sadistic bastard, just like the groom was. A good brother wanted something better for his sister, and this was his time to shine and save the day, save Kagura from marrying an idiotic sadist. The vermillion-haired man smiled and was about to get up.

Someone grabbed his braid and pulled him back to his seat without no-one noticing. Kamui turned around to look, who had such a grip of his hair. Apparently Sougo and Kagura weren't the only blue and reddish eyes combo. Kamui's ocean blue eyes studied the red-eyed woman keeping him in place. She acted like she didn't even notice him, making Kamui's interest pique even higher. ”The donut girl. Nobume, was it?” he whispered quietly.

The ceremony moved to the final part. The priest had so many beautiful things to say, speaking about undying love, speaking about the great power it had. Kondo sobbed against Hijikata's shoulder. Shinpachi's purity glasses were soaking wet with tears and Gintoki wiped his runny nose to Umibouzu's formal cape.

”...and finally. Kagura, do you want to take this man to be your husband through ups and downs?”

Kagura's face dropped to another level. She almost looked like Gintoki with her deadfish-eyes. ”...sure...” was her enthusiastic answer.

”O-okay. And then, Okita Sougo, do you want to take this woman to be your wife through ups and downs?”

Sougo looked pretty much like himself. Deadpanning the house down like a champion. ”...whatever...” was his romantic answer.

The priest hadn't heard such answers from anyone before. He figured that the marriage was arranged from the lack of emotion.

”Well then, I'll pronounce you husband and wife, Sougo, you may kiss your bride.”

Kagura stuck out her tongue at him and Sougo pulled down one of his lower eyelids. How truly romantic way to seal a marriage. A lot of guests sighed loudly, many of them even expecting something like this from them.

Kagura covered her mouth to muffle her own laughter. Her cracking up made Sougo smirk too. Then she quickly grabbed his hand. The wedding march started to play and Kagura pulled Sougo to run with her. He followed her without hesitating. Both Kagura and Sougo thought they had managed to act like they didn't care about their wedding.

To their defeat...

...their genuine smiles gave them out as they ran together out of the church.

”Ah, young love,” Gintoki said quietly.

Author’s notes: Thank you all for reading my Okikagu week entries <3

[alroma1]

Gintama 683 Review

Robozaki makes a glorious return

Lol Sorachi did not forget about those two. Sorta

Yeah,yeah those two are awesome team we get it. Can a plot please move along

HA Gintoki obviously meant that town is a kid and he is his parent but Takasugi blutantly tells bitter truth

Judging by eyebrow it is Hisugi. Honestly his whole character one big meh

Lol again this page show panels from last chapters except the one where excuse me Gintoki cut the  guy RIGHT hand

Of course it could be prothesis but the real question is why they dont put prothesis on both hands. And also where the talk about four limbs comes from.

 And that was never explained how they were healed

Havent they already choped him like Nobume said at the start of Rakuyo? 

Now the good twist would be if Takasugi have already become adherent of Tengenism and is going to do exactly what Gintoki said.

Isnt it pretty much what Tendoshuu was?

I am pretty sure in the past there were bigger guys than this bastard. Another point where exactly Takasugi is going? He doesnt have that much ties with Edo so what? Visiting Bansai grave? Meeting with Zura? The second seems more likely since he is talking to Gintoki about seeing someone. 

The glasses gag is never-ending. 

The fandom might joke about Yamazaki and anpan as much as they want but it got nothing on Sorachi Hideaki. He simpy out of this world

Stop making faces from yaoi doujinshis, Hijikata. Yaoi fangirls have enough imaginations on their own.

Buy him some anpan already. 

Finaly

That was fast. 

HEH. But Tae reappearing may means that either there is going to be some Gintae or Sorachi writing off Kondo marriage to real gorilla to make us believe that this all truth after all. Overall it wasnt a bad chapter but somehow I wish plot would unfold faster. Until next week

[iyonnas-blog]

Me: That's it. I'm going to stop shipping okikagu a little too much. They may not be endgame and their story may lead to some tragedy.

My mind: thinks about the cliff scene where Sougo was willing to let his guard down so he can save Kagura from falling, despite knowing that holding her hand can lead to his death because he will have an open back to his enemies. Also, did I mention that Kagura was willing to fall just so she won't be a burden to him and so Sougo could protect himself from the attacks? And hey, how about that scene where Kagura was held hostage by Nobume and Sougo was sweating bullets and was ready to fucking cut Nobume when she put her blade on Kagura's neck. And hey, did I forget to mention that one scene where Kagura willingly had a heart-to-heart talk with Sougo despite them being rivals? How about that one episode where Kagura was faking illness and Sougo was the only one who noticed that she was alive and was followed by the line, 'if their love for you is real, they'll definitely notice’? But yo, how about that one scene where Sougo actually said goodbye to Kagura before leaving. He fought with her with a fucking grin on his face like he’s enjoying being with her. He even told her not to lose to anyone else. That gave me a flashback at that one arc where Kagura was having a hard time defending herself from an enemy and Sougo saved her saying, 'only I am allowed to beat that girl'. How about that one arc where Kagura was shot in the leg yet Sougo refused to leave her? And hey, are we just gonna ignore the fact that when the Shinsengumi came back in the manga, he talked to her first. He approached her first.

Me: ...Back on my bullshit.

[imagintama]

fluffy isaburo headcanons? :)

Sasaki Isaburo:

He enjoys watching his significant other do the things they like doing. Whether it’s their hobbies, talents, or something just plain casual, Isaburo loves the feeling of comfort it brings him. 

You can bet he’s the type of guy who asks his partner if they like him or not, even though they’ve been dating for a few months.

Isaburo really isn’t big on pda, so he settles for holding hands.

He texts his significant other all the time. All the time. He also sends them pictures of cute animals that pass by because he knows they’ll find it adorable.

Speaking of text messages: he uses a lot of heart kaomojis when texting his partner. Examples: ( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ ♡ & ❤ (ɔˆз(ˆ⌣ˆc)  & (ღ˘⌣˘ღ)  But he doesn’t dare to talk about it while they’re around. If his s/o brings up the topic or laughs about it, he just shrugs it off. (But he continues sending them heart kaomojis anyways.) 

He might refer to Nobume as their child as a joke but his s/o goes along with it, treating her with donuts and hanging around her. If something dangerous/stupid happens, his partner’s ready to chide the both of them. (Not really both. At most times, Nobume escapes unscathed.)