#i wish we got to see the rest of the shinsengumi boys and what they were up to now that the country's saved

[blackcatanna]

Okita's Route Part 2: Still on Kyoto Winds because I didn't realise that I'd ramble so much

Predictably, I'm enjoying Okita's route a lot more than Kazama's. Also, I'm skipping a lot less than when I played Kazama and Iba's routes, which makes a lot of sense because Okita is actually in the Shinsengumi and, therefore, gets a lot of screen time. So far, he acts like an asshole but this isn't backed up by his actions. Apart from the casual child cruelty X_X

Chapter, uh, 3? I think...

I feel like Hijikata sticking up for Sanan is just making things worse X_X . Saying that he's not useless because he's a swordsman is just plain wrong. It makes it seem like he's just saying it out of pity. I'm sure that Sanan has plenty to contribute, besides slicing people up.

"Sanan is quite the beloved member here, isn't he? It's nice to see such a tight-knit group." -_- Itou is such a master of shade. Gently implying that they only keep Sanan around because of their relationship. You evil bitch X_X

"Ugh, who brought those bastards into the Shinsengumi?" RIGHT?! Glad to see that Okita's not blindly following Kondou's lead here.

"He is easily deceived by silver tongues, those who appear virtuous... but are real scumbags." As the great Roisin Conaty once said: "Charming is just lube for evil." However, this is kind of backing up what those asshole kids were saying earlier about Kondou being an idiot X_X

SNOOP SNOOP 👀

AH! OKITA CAUGHT ME TALKING TO MYSELF! AGAIN X_X

"Trying to run away behind our backs." -_- You know that's not true.

"Heh, I'm just messing with you." No shit. "I mean, unless you were escaping, then I'll slit your throat." -_- You just couldn't resist the opportunity to throw out another casual death threat, could you?

Is he worried about my safety? I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO BE FLIPPANT BUT I SEE THROUGH YOU.

"Good girl." -_-

"It sounded like something out of a fairy tale." Oooooooooh hooooooneeeey... Have you not been paying attention?!

Welp, Okita told me to scream so... AAAIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Oh, apparently, not that... OKITAAAAA! Bet he loved that.

"Aaaaaaaaaaagh!" Everyone, please stop screaming.

Ngl, Sanan looks good with white hair.

Apparently, Okita likes hearing me screaming his name... Good to know...

"Don't worry your little head. It would be my pleasure to help you die." O_O ... Isn't that a little hasty!?!

"You're not serious, are you?" HONEY X_X

"It's really annoying, you know. You think you're part of the Shinsengumi?" </3 Ouch X_X You're the ones who took me prisoner, y'know? However, Chizuru does often act like she's the only one who cares about the Shinsengumi members, which must be annoying af.

"We only keep you alive because you're useful. You are NOT one of us." Uh... Thanks for calling me useful? But is that seriously your attitude? Anyone who's not useful to you should just die? -_-

"His words shattered my already breaking heart." Aw! </3 Poor Chizuru bae!

"Seriously... You can really be a pain, you know that?" RIGHT. BACK. AT. YOU.

"It'd be easier to just kill you," Broken record much?

"Had their last thoughts as men been hope they might survive the madness? It sounded horrible..." YUUUP.

"Sano! Make something up!" Definite DnD vibes again! When you make the low charisma character roll deception X_X

"You're a miserable actor. Keep your mouth shut." I'm sure that this exchange won't seem suspect at all X_X

"Oh, Sanan... Who cares what you are? You're alive!" Bless Kondou's pure and simple heart :')

"Yukimura, you go back to your room. I know you didn't sleep much." Why am I the only person in this game who requires sleep? -_- Just a trend I've noticed...

"*Cough* *Cough*" O_O OKITA, ARE YOU OKAY!??? O_O

"You owe us a lil' booze! Or maybe even, heh, a little... company?" WHERE'S OKITA'S MURDEROUS INSTINCT WHEN YOU NEED IT!?!?

"Suddenly I felt a hand on my arm." BWOOOOOOAAAARP!!! PHYSICAL CONTACT ALARM!!!

"Calm down, kid." ... NO. I HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN MONTHS.

"Hey hey hey! Looks like she's got the hots for you, Souji!" Oh Heisuke X_X

"No matter what, I won't buy Ishida Medical Powder." XD Got to admire Okita for staying true to his convictions :')

"I'm using the hell out of you" O_o Calm down, Hijikata X_X

Guess I'm going to have to put stalking Okita on hold for now...

Harada and Shiranui should just kiss already.

""Huh? Chizuru?" Okita looked up from cleaning his sword as I entered the hall." OH, HE WAS POLISHING HIS SWORD, EH? ;P YES, I AM TWELVE. Tbf, his face really does look like he's been caught in the act...

"Oh shut up, will you? It's all your fault. The medicine you gave me totally doesn't w..." >:( I'm hoping that the reason that sentence trails off is because I give him a verbal smack down!!

"*Cough* *Cough*" O_O WELL, I GUESS NOW I CAN'T CALL HIM A CUNT!

BLOOD O_O

"It's nothing." ... BOI!!

This game is totally a forcing-stubborn-men-to-rest simulator X_X

"I'd been given instructions to stay away" from the physical examinations but ho's gotta ho', amirite?!

"Oh my... So you WANT to see those savages? What peculiar taste..." Itou, don't call me out like this. Although, I still feel like we should respect their privacy X_X

"Oh! Oh..." ALRIGHT, YOU THIRSTY BITCH, CALM DOWN.

*Camera zooms in on Nagakura's tiddies* -_-

"Your body's fine, Shin." - Heisuke.

"Don't you wanna order a slice of this beef cake? I got two meaty servings on a plate, right here." Aaaaaagh! X_X My eeeeyyyeees.... Can't... un-read... sentence... please... fetch.... brain... bleach...

"A medical exam is for finding problems, not showing off. Now move." PREACH, SAITO!!!

"I feel like it's rude to intrude..." AND YET HERE WE ARE X_X

"It grants immortality" ??? Except for the part where you turn to ash???

"You're forcing your body in ways the eyes can't see." LISTEN TO THE DOCTOR, GUYS!!!

Everyone's just... RIPPING Takeda to shreds XD

"I'm scared shitless, believe me." :'( Poor Okita

No smart comments here... this is just really sad :'(

He's seen me? It's been nice knowing y'all...

Finally, Chizuru calls out Okita for threatening to kill her so much.

"Desist, you hooligans!" Sen is such a Queen! I want a Sen route!

Chizuru and Sen standing up to these arseholes is giving me LIFE! :') PREACH, GIRLS, PREACH!!!

"What were you going to do if they hurt you gravely?" Regenerate, biatch! >:)

"C'mon, was she that pretty?" UM, YES. But I think that she gives off too much of a domme vibe to be Okita's type :P

Chizuru is getting VERY distracted by Okita's hair. You know those scenes in movies where the woman takes down her hair and it's all slow motion and super sexy? This series has a lot of that. Plus when they get their Western makeovers :')

"That's funny... You don't LOOK like an especially nosy, hand-wringing version of my mother." XD I mean, -_- That totally wasn't hilarious.

"I grabbed his towel and began to scrub his head." ... We totally are his mother X_X

"I feel like I remember a time when you were nice and quiet..." NOT ANYMORE, BITCH! AND NOW, I'M ARMED WITH A TOWEL >:)

"You're really good with your hands." O_o ... What?

"You tied your hair up so quickly..." Why don't you show me what else you can do with them? ;)

Now he wants to know what I think of his hair? :/

OMG, HE'S TRYING TO COPY KONDOU'S HAIR XD I HAVE NO WORDS (for once)

Oh, you're surprised that I kept my promise? I'll have you know that I am an honourable woman, good sir! >:/

But Chizuru's claiming to only have done it out of fear of being sliced and diced? :/Uh, sure?

Chapter 4:

"They're small potatoes." This game has some excellent phrases in it X_X

Itou wanting to change the Shinsengumi uniform because it's not "fashionable" enough is the kind of genius that I'd expect from this game's most relatable character :') Although, I personally think that the blue uniforms are pretty <3

Awe, Chizuru thinks that Okita's joking about killing Itou :')

Kaoru just VERY BLATANTLY giving away that he was involved in the notice board incident X_X

:O I'm slightly jealous to discover that Okita's casual death threats aren't just reserved for me!

I get the sense that Okita knows that Kaoru's a boy but I'm sure that it wouldn't stop him if Kaoru was really a girl. Hooray for gender equality!

"I felt embarrassed for even doubting her for a second," O_e SERIOUSLY??!??

We're just going to let him go now!?!

Now Okita's having a coughing fit D: It was so stupid to run off and make him come after us :(

"What if she had accomplices nearby" GOOD. POINT. Chizuru would be so easy to lure into a trap X_X

"Without me around, you're just a useless kid." But I have a great personality! So, together, we almost make one complete, functioning adult :)

"Stop being so timid." I wish that I had that power :'(

"You can rely on us when you need to." Aweee! ^_^

"even compared to the weakest Shinsengumi foot soldier, I was pathetic." HEY. STOP THAT. WHAT DID I SAY? GREAT. PERSONALITY.

"Did you need something?" "Blood." O_O AH. Well, at least he doesn't beat about the bush! O_O

"What the hell? That's a little cold of you, having that pass for a good-bye, isn't it?" YEAH! :'( MIKI IS RIGHT! </3 :(

"Saburo. Watch your mouth." I'm sure that Miki is sad when Itou dies but 90% of their interactions are Itou telling Miki to shut up. X_X

"Is... Is that okay?" NO. IT IS NOT OKAY. SAITO AND HEISUKE ARE LEAVING, ALONG WITH LITTLE PIECES OF MY HEART. D'X

"would that mean I could never see them again?" *sobs*

"We're going to keep relations amicable between our two organisations." AHAHAHAHAHA HA.

"Okita...?" "... Hm? Damn." Uh, nice to see you, too?

"Next time we run into 'em, we'll probably have to kill each other." O_O Don't be so flippant, you ass :'(

"Swords don't think" damn, I didn't realise that you were sword-kin. Everyone thinks and has feelings. I'm sure that no power could convince Okita to kill Kondou.

"Takeda also left" and not one single fuck was given. :')

Just going to ignore Okita making fun of my "bed head" -_-

"I've come to take you" orly? ;)

"Look, lady, you're not part of the Shinsengumi, so I'd appreciate it if you could keep your nose out of our business." So, now that it's convenient for you, I'm part of the Shinsengumi? -_- I still haven't forgotten what you said before, asshole >:( Remember? HEART = BROKEN.

Sen knows that I'm a SLUT ^_^

"I can't tell if you have guts, or if you've got rocks for brains..." It must be the latter if I'm staying because of you XP

*Terrible decision immediately has lethal consequences*

LEMME GO! >:(

See Kazama post for my COLOURFUL feelings on this cunt >:(

Kondou can be so badass when he wants to be :')

Why... Hello there ;)

"Gotta admit, I didn't figure you for this type of girl." Then you haven't been paying attention ;P

Oh yeah: BWWWWWAAAAAAAARRRRP!!! PHYSICAL CONTACT ALARM!!! And then some X_X

"Didn't think I'd be getting pushed down into bed tonight, least of all by you." Oh yeah? Who else did you have in mind? Kondou? -_-

"Oh no! No no no!" Chizuru, we know you're thirsty and it's okay! Embrace the thot within! :')

"Tell me... How is it? On top of me. Does it feel good?" PLEASE SAY YES, PLEASE SAY YES, PLEASE SAY YES!

"I hadn't realised I was still on top of him." Uh-huh. Sure. And what a terrible shame that was.

"If I go out, Kondou will get mad at me." And then no more bum fun :( (me@me: WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!??! me: XD Sorry)

"Okita's eyes shone with admiration for Kondou." X_X The fanfiction writes itself...

Just to be clear, I think it's pretty gross to ship people with their guardians, even if they're both adults at the time, because that's called GROOMING.

"He isn't going to need the Water of Life. I'll make sure of that." ... How, Hijikata?! He's literally DYING of tuberculosis!

And now he's not eating :'(

"I just don't want to. Is that really a problem?" Yes, because you'll starve to death.

"Hm, you are a doctor's daughter... Maybe you just can't leave a sick guy alone?" Or maybe I just don't want YOU to die, ass >:'(

I WILL MAKE YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT, JUST EAT IT!!! Ooooooh! He's blushing :O

He doesn't like bitter stuff but wants me to put grated radish in his porridge? O_o Well, I'm glad that he's cooperating :D

"I'm only going to eat it if it's delicious." Well, if you don't like it, I'll try again! :D

"Don't think I've given up or something." Okay D': <3

EAT THE FOOD, OKITA >:D

"It makes me feel good..." Hooray ^_^

"Could you keep me company for a while?" :O Okey! :)

"What would I talk about?" HELLO DARKNESS MY OLD FRIEND...

"He wasn't afraid to die," um, weren't you eavesdropping on his conversation with the doctor? -_-

"I want to help... But I'm getting weaker every day." Of course you do :'( This is more heartbreaking than him saying that you're not part of the Shinsengumi and just annoying DX

Maybe tell him that everybody likes having him around and that the Shinsengumi is where he belongs? Or, we could just leave him to wallow in misery... I guess that works, too X_X

"I couldn't see someone like Okita succumbing to a mere disease." ... Why, exactly? Is he supposed to fight it off with his sword or persuade it to fuck off with the force of his personality?

"He'll be fine. Right...?" NOOOPE.

SAITO 😍 I mean, uh, whatever... Totally not bothered at all...

WAIT, HOLD ON: SPY-TO. Yes, thank you. I am a genius :3

Finally murdering Itou for realskies! :')

I get that Hijikata and everyone are trying to look out for Okita but he's terminally ill. Keeping him out of the action is only going to keep him miserable until his inevitable demise. :'(

"Saito'll be here for a few days, so you'll have someone to play with." -_- Bit patronising, Hijikata X_X

Kazama being his usual, charming self X_X

Let's go find Okita and... Tell him to go back to bed? Okay...

What the fuck!?!! Kaoru!?!!

Do we ever get a decent explanation for why Kaoru was sent to live with some abusive fucks?

Kaoru... Why are you so short? I bet you were malnourished X_X

Okita's just watching this unfold, chomping on imaginary popcorn...

"Do you just plan to use her, like Kazama does?" O_o... I fucking hope not, because that would be INCEST!!!

"... No," OH, THANK GOD.

"What would you have done if I'd said yes?" Ugh, you said no already! Can we please move this conversation in a less incestuous direction X_X

"... No. You're free to take her." OKITA!!! HE'S MY BROTHER X_X Not that I'm expecting you to leap to my defense but this conversation is WEIRD as FUCK.

:O The Ochimizu! Is Kaoru trying to help Okita?! Misguidedly, but still.

"But... if their plan is to simply use my dear sister as some sort of demonic broodmare... I can't allow that to happen." ... Kaoru... :'O That's... Actually really sweet XO This is the first time that someone who claims to be part of my family has actually looked out for me :')

Oh, so Kaoru wants to use Okita to protect me from Kazama! I have a feeling that he's going to be disappointed if he thinks that Okita will do what he tells him to but I appreciate the gesture :')

"Please don't do anything that would hurt Kondou so, Okita." Ugh, even as he lies dying, he's supposed to be worrying about upsetting other people? >:(

"Okita the Fury; Okita the beast." X_X Bit harsh but okay.

"He had traded away his soul." Um, since when? XD

"Happy now, Kaoru Naguno?" "Yes I am." ... Fair.

"... For falling into my trap." Wait, what?!? O_O

"I'm happy I got to make my sister suffer." Kaoru, why? D': WE COULD HAVE HAD IT AAAAAAAAAAAAAA-AAA-AAALLL!!! DX

I'm glad that Kaoru did away with the Nagumo fuckers >:( But still, why take it out on me?!

Even dressed as a boy, Kaoru still looks prettier than Chizuru...

*Sigh* looks like I'm being choked, as usual X_X

I feel like Kaoru could easily have given Okita something much worse than the Ochimizu if he REALLY wanted to make me suffer.

"I'd run out of things to say." X_X Again?!

"This was my decision and I don't regret it." That is good to know :)

"You shouldn't get involved with a guy like me." Oh, here we go X_X

"That came out of nowhere," Too right!

"No" uh, does that mean "no, I won't get involved with you" or "no, I won't do as you say"???

Uh, is he crying?! "Hey! You can't just act like you're sick when you want something!" XD What the actual fuck is happening right now???

"I'm dead" ... Uh... Really? Because... You seem very much alive...

"I don't think Kondou wants you around just because he wants you to do things for him." FINALLY, some sense!

Aaaand, apparently, it's earned me The Unblinking Stare of Doom >:(

"Do you mind not trying to speak for Kondou." Do you mind not assuming that he's so much of an asshole that he'd kick you out just because you're inactive during the day?! >:(

"It's not like you're capable of knowing exactly how Kondou truly feels." YES, YUKIMURA!!! GET HIM!! >:D

"Do you think Kondou would still need me... Even if I can't hold a sword anymore?" YES.

"You're right." I know :3

"I'm just jealous of you, Okita, that you have someone like Kondou by your side." Yeah. >:'( Fuck you, Kaoru, fuck you, Kodo :'(

"Oh yeah, huh... I totally forgot." Ffs, Okita XD

"They just happened to be there when you were born, you know?" Yeah! >:( And they can all go to hell!

"Somehow, my chin had acquired something of an arrogant tilt" yaaaas! You live your best life, girl! Let go of the haters, cut out the negativity! Stick it to 'em!

Chapter 5:

"How dangerous could foreign weapons be?" Oh, my sweet, Summer Sanan X_X

"Why are you going on night rounds with us?" ... Wait, what?! Why am I going on night rounds?

AS IF putting myself in danger is going to help Okita in any way X_X

DAMN, KONDOU... Nice, uh, blood you're accessorising with, there. O_O MEDIC!!!

"Lucky for us, they're idiots." Hooraaaay!

Okita's not going to be happy when he sees this...

Speak of the devil...

HIJIKATA, STOP BEATING ABOUT THE BUSH.

"I thought for a moment that Okita was going to grab Hijikata and shake him." :O :D Please yes!

Okita is suuuuuper keen to blame Hijikata for this -_-

"If he dies, it's your ass in the fire, Hijikata." Another excellent image but this pointless conversation has gone on for too long X_X

"I will find you, no matter where you may be, and I will kill you." O_O OKITA!! I THOUGHT THAT YOU SAID YOU WERE CALM!!! Bloody hell X_X

Oh no... What has Okita done now X_X

Killing spree, mad science, aggressive interrogation, Hijikata murder? The possibilities are endless with this stabby boi.

Where exactly am I running to? "I had finally found him." HOW?! With the power of love?! O_o

Looks like "Killing spree" it is X_X

"I'm about to murder you." Ffs Souji X_X

"I'm just doing my job." OH YEAH?!? THEN WHY DID YOU FEEL THE NEED TO GO BEHIND EVERYONE'S BACKS, HUH?!

"What's wrong with me doing what I'm doing?" Yeah, what's wrong with sadistically slaughtering a bunch of virtually defenceless men as they attempt to retreat?! -_-

"I just killed people, no matter who it was, as long as it was what Kondou wanted." *Sigh* Kondou's not going to be around for ever, you know? X_X Maybe TRY think about why your doing what you're doing. Maybe learn from Kondou's example?

"Do not ever act out and worry the chief like that again." XD You tell him, Saito!

"Idiots." XD Hijikata

"I didn't wake up until evening had arrived." Oh look, it's me :)

OH, FUCK. That looked like a Kaoru silhouette :O

Why do they keep saying that Kaoru "tricked" Okita into drinking the Water of Life?! Kaoru offered it and Okita drank it. No trickery here!

"They wanted to avenge Itou. You remember him? The man you deceived and murdered?" XD Can't argue with that :')

"shoot the weaker target first." UGH. Why do I always get SHOT!?!

"Call me what you want." Oh, I intend to 3:)

Omg, I didn't get shot! :O BECAUSE OKITA USED HIMSELF AS A HUMAN SHIELD O_O ... BUT WHY?!??

NO, DON'T CHECK UP ON ME! WE NEED TO MOVE BEFORE WE GET SHOT AT AGAIN!!!

Oh no! O_O Doesn't look like he'll be moving any time soon O_O

"Okita! Okitaaaaa!" O_O

"It kills me to see you hurt, just as much as it kills you to see Kondou hurt!" O: <3 :'(

"What an idiot.. " No, Kaoru! You're the idiot! Because you will never be happy while you continue down this sadistic, evil path, wasting your own life trying to destroy someone else's and refusing to let go of your spiteful jealousy >:( At least Okita's risking his life for something good.

"The more despair and anger you feel, the more you look like me." ... Silver linings! :)

D: Did they use silver bullets?! :O

Wait, when did Yamazaki get wounded?! :O

Bless Hijikata for letting me stay with my crush XD

Final Chapter:

Yamazaki is fine :D Hooray!

"They need men, so we need to go now..." Uh... Then why aren't you dressed? X_X

"... I want you to remain calm as I tell you this." That is... NOT AN ENCOURAGING WAY TO START A CONVERSATION O_O

D': Inoue has fallen. :'( It hurts every time DX

Aw, he looks really sad :'( and no wonder...

"as soon as we arrive, I'm gonna swing my sword at anyone and everyone." Uh... That's the spirit X_X

ONWARDS TO EDO

[razberryyum]

Gintama manga chap 704 (spoilers)

Part 2 of 3

~

Dear Gintama gods and Sorachi-sama,

Continued from part 1...

Which brings me to my third wish, which was just that: that Gintama would be allowed to continue on in one form or another. With the new anime project already announced, in making that wish, I had been hoping for the announcement of a new live action movie in the near future and then perhaps somewhere in the farther future, after you��ve had a long, much needed rest, you would be re-inspired to create more Gintama once again. But in order for that to happen, Gintama would have had to end in a way that would easily allow you to do that. In other words, it couldn’t have a definitive ending leaving no room for any sort of continuation. And boy was that NOT a definitive ending in any way. I am absolutely so thankful that you truly left things wide open. If we want to believe that the Yorozuya and everyone else had perished in the blast, we can; if we want to believe that they survived and carried on for the rest of their natural mortal lifespan, we can; if we want to believe they were somehow immortalized by the Altana blast and survived all the way until the Tokyo era, we can; if we want to believe all of it is just Tama’s digital imagination and she can write or rewrite everyone’s fates in her database, we can. I feel like by the end, Tama ended up being your stand-in, with the ability to rewrite everyone’s fates as you choose since you are the god of the Gintaverse.  

And then there’s always the possibility that none of those are right, that you just didn’t know how to end the series so you decided to avoid commitment and make everything as uncertain as possible so that the responsibility of finding a denouement to the story falls on us. Some folks might consider that a cop-out, I consider it you being true to your nature and Gintama’s as well. I think those of us who appreciated and loved Gintama for its irrelevance should not at all be surprised at this ending. In fact, if I think about it, if you had ended Gintama in any other way, I would probably wonder if you’ve been abducted by screwdriver aliens and replaced with a clone. The hope of a future has always meant more to me than having all the plot elements fully and logically explained because at the end of the day, while you have created an amazing series with enthralling story arcs and exciting adventures which I love, I love the characters you have blessed us with even more. And that is why I am especially grateful that you did well by our characters. You didn’t force them into final fantasy scenarios that made little sense, nor did you betray any of their inherent nature.

Which brings me to your fulfillment of my second wish, the one I was honestly most worried about, because the shonen series I’ve been invested in in the past have had a bad track record of the final fantasy trope. I know I should have been somewhat reassured when you actually made fun of the trope, but I guess I just like to worry all the time. And even though none of my three most beloved pairings ended up being canonized, the fact that really no other pairing was either was frankly good enough for me. That has always been what I’ve hoped for, to leave the door open on the possibility of my OTPs getting together so that I can continue to dream beyond the ending of the series. This was especially my hope when it came to the OTP love of my life, Gintoki and Hijikata, because I know I was facing almost insurmountable odds with them becoming truly canon. In fact, before the release of this chapter, I had been thinking if you would just show them in one frame together before the end and then have both of them remain unattached, that would be enough for me. That’s all I can ever ask for. The same goes for Kondou and Otae, and Okita and Kagura. But then once again you blessed me with so much more. Gintoki and Hijikata not only remained a viable possibility because they stayed unattached at the end, but they also shared close to 10 panels together, half of which consisted of them actually interacting in the most adorable way possible! And then there’s Kondou and Otae…I actually screamed a little in excitement when their hands touched. I know in the end you tried to play it off as a blackmail, but the fact that Tae-chan didn’t grab that hand to slam him onto the nearest hard surface was progress enough for me.  She even smiled at him! That literally brought tears to my eyes. And again, since that entire sequence is open for interpretation as whether or not we should take it seriously, that still provided me with enough hope that I can continue dreaming for their final fantasy to be a reality.  

Now, I can’t say that I didn’t wish that Okita and Kagura actually got to interact as well, but at the same time, since they’re still young, they still have time. Again, you have given us hope in that regard as well since at least they’re still within each others’ orbits. Perhaps Kagura can make some guest appearances in the “Shinsengumi Sword-wind Notebook” series (I WANT THAT SERIES SORACHI-SAMA!) to further the development of their relationship. Yes, I would’ve loved seeing them insult and fight each other at least one more time, but if I am to believe that there is still a future for Gintama, then I should also believe that there is still a future for them as well.

Continued in Part 3 (posted)....

[dietarysalad]

Street War – Epilogue

Sougo watched in annoyance, his eyes trained on the girl in front of him. Though I can hardly call her a ‘girl’, anymore.

It had been two years since the truce between the Yorozuya and the Shinsengumi. He had long since graduated from high school and was now in his second year at university. Kagura, on the other hand, was studying for her entrance exams. Surprisingly, she had matured a lot in the past two years. She had let her hair grow out, and carried herself with an air of grace that he never knew she could have. She even studied, now, which was the most surprising part of all. Supposedly, according to what he had heard along the grapevine, she wanted to be able to get a proper job to give back to Gintoki for having taken care of her for all these years.

However, though Kagura may have matured in the past two years, nothing had matured in terms of their relationship with one another. If anything, there had been regress. After the big fight between the Yorozuya and the Shinsengumi, both Sougo and Kagura were too stubborn to speak any further about their feelings to one another. Their conversations grew shorter and their time together lessened as Sougo became busy with university life and Kagura became engrossed in her studies. In addition, both Hongou and Soyo had gone abroad – Hongou’s case being that he needed to be admitted to a larger hospital while Soyo’s family was expanding their influence internationally. While they still kept in contact, the absence of these two pillars of the ‘Okita Sougo and Sakata Kagura Should Date Committee’ meant that two years flew past without anything starting between the young rivals.

It was by complete chance that he had happened upon Kagura in the large metropolitan library. Sougo had needed a reference book for an assignment, and was leafing through a bookshelf when he saw her bright, vermillion hair on the other side of the room. He had sauntered slowly over to where she was sitting, her back hunched over a textbook as she wrote notes in the exercise book beside it. She had placed a set of headphones over her ears and likely hadn’t heard him over her music. Picking a relevant reference book off the bookshelf, he moved to sit opposite her. The library tables were rather wide, so he was quite sure that he would be able to sit without being in her field of vision. He opened his reference book and made an attempt to read it before his eyes drifted back to Kagura.

“Hey, China, I know it’s been two years and we’ve barely spoken to each other but I still like you”. Oh, yeah. That’ll go down well. Sougo sighed and shifted his gaze back down to his reference book. His eyes flitted across the letters aimlessly, his pride and stubbornness preventing him from doing anything that might make a fool out of him. He vaguely wondered if she might still like him, or if some guy from school had already caught her eye. Another sigh left his mouth as he rested his cheek against his palm, his eyes slowly closing. I wish we could go back to beating the crap out of each other. At least she would look at me, back then.

When Kagura’s eye caught the light streaming in from the window shift from a glowing yellow to a warm sunset-orange, her hands automatically began moving to gather her study materials. After having packed all her books and stationery into her bag, she removed her headphones and was met by the sound of someone’s light snores. Looking up, she was surprised to find Okita Sougo taking a nap in front of her, his head rested upon his crossed arms and his shoulder-length hair slightly disentangled from his short ponytail. How long has he been here? Taking a few moments to calm herself, Kagura snidely noted that he was much more tolerable when he was asleep compared to when he was awake.

However, it was nearing the library’s closing time and Kagura did not feel like dealing with Sougo’s whining if she never woke him up and he got in trouble. He had obviously seen her, after all. Whether or not he had meant for her to see him was another matter. “Oi, Okita,” she quietly called out. There was no response. “Okita?” Kagura walked over to his side of the table and gently removed the reference book that he had been using as a pillow from beneath him. As she placed it back on the shelf, she called out to him again. “Okita, wake up. The library is closing.” This time, he grumbled something inaudible. Feeling a little impatient, Kagura pulled his chair from under him. Falling on his butt resulted in the desired effect of waking him up and, satisfied, Kagura slid the chair back underneath the table. “Come on, Okita – library’s closing,” she announced, draping her bag across her shoulder and turning in the direction of the door. “Time to go.”

When she did not feel movement from the older boy, Kagura halted her walk and sent a tired glance back over her shoulder. “You coming or not?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at his stupefied expression. Without much other choice, Sougo dusted himself off and followed her lead. As they left the building, he turned to down at Kagura. “Since when did you start calling me ‘Okita’?” he asked, fixing his hair back into its ponytail. “That’s kind of gross, don’t you think?” Kagura chose to not turn towards him. “Well, it’s about time that I grow out of my childish habits.” Sougo walked alongside her in silence. Is that all you’ve grown out of, China?

Deciding to pick a different topic, Sougo turned his head back towards the direction they were walking. “So, what’s with the books?” he began. “Last I remembered, you were at the bottom of your class.” “Yeah, well, things change,” Kagura answered, flicking her long hair over her shoulder. While her curt responses and despondent attitude may have been deemed as a nice ‘challenge’ for some, Sougo was not feeling it. He had overcome all the ‘challenges’ two years ago, he reasoned. Isn’t it supposed to be smooth sailing from here on?

As they walked, Sougo noticed an empty park to their right. And, because he was in absolute control of his emotions, he promptly tripped Kagura and watched her break her fall by somersaulting onto the grass. I guess she hasn’t let all of her skills dull. “Oi, what’s the big idea, Okita?” she shouted, glaring up at the older boy through her bangs. “C’mon,” he taunted, removing his bag and grabbing her dropped one, placing both on the park bench. “For old times-ing!” “Hah?!” With that, Sougo quickly jumped and launched a barrage of light attacks against Kagura. If she won’t look at me, I’ll make it so she can’t look away.

As she dodged his hits, Kagura felt an energy build up within her that she had not felt for a very long time. Straight right, round-house to the shin, jump, uppercut. The more hits Sougo sent her way, the more Kagura began to lose herself to the heat of the battle. After a few minutes, she stopped her defensive strategy and dropped to the grass. In half a second, Kagura had managed to roll and send a round-house kick to the back of Sougo’s knees. Surprised at Kagura’s sudden movement, the older boy tripped and fell in a heap to the ground as his opponent leapt backwards off the grass in order to gain a bit of distance. With a swift motion, Kagura pulled her hair-tie off her wrist and quickly pulled her long hair into a bun. “If you’re asking to get pummelled, Sadist, that can be arranged!” she shouted.

Hours passed as the two sparred against one another. It was well into the night when the two finally ended up sprawled on the grass, completely out of breath. Sougo looked over at the bench where he had left their belongings to find both of their phones lit up, blinking with numerous notifications. Probably all asking where the hell we are. Deciding that he should probably get Kagura home before her father sent out a search party and hired an assassin for her kidnapper, Sougo stood up and slowly walked over to where Kagura was lying on the grass. Offering her a hand, he called out to her.

“C’mon, we’d better get home,” Sougo said, shaking his hand in Kagura’s direction. “It’s pretty late.” She looked up at him, her bun mostly unravelled due to the intensity of their sparring session. Slowly, she reached up for his hand and, without any warning, pulled him down onto the ground with her. He grunted as his back hit the grass and he brought his hand up to rub against the back of his head. Turning his head slightly, he glared at the girl by his side. “China?” he grumbled. “Shut up for a minute, Sadist,” she spoke calmly. “The night is actually kind of nice if you quit your yipping for a bit.” He gave her a look before closing his eyes. She’s right. It was a cool, summer night and the breeze was a welcome feeling against his skin after his brawl with Kagura.

“So, what happened to growing out of your childish habits and not calling me ‘Sadist’, anymore?” Sougo teased, resting his head against his arm as he watched Kagura narrow her eyes at him. “Ah, and here I thought you might just shut up for the rest of the night.” Sighing, she sat up and moved towards the park bench to grab her belongings. Sougo slowly sat up and followed moments afterward. When a few more minutes of silence had passed, Kagura spoke up again. “I have my own reasons for doing what I do.”

Sougo swung his bag over his shoulder, searching his brain for a light-hearted response to Kagura’s statement. “Hm?” he hummed. “What, you trying to nab a guy or something?” Kagura smirked. “I guess you aren’t as dumb as you look.” Shit. “Y-Yeah? Bet’cha he isn’t as good looking as I am, though.” Kagura turned and gave him an amused look. “Nah,” she chuckled. “I’d say he is.” What? Sougo breathed in deeply. Regroup, regroup. She thinks I’m good looking? Fuck, get yourself together. “I heard you were doing this for the Yorozuya boss, though,” Sougo added, hoping to save himself. “I must say, he’s decent, but he isn’t as good looking as I am.” “Hm,” Kagura murmured. “Well, you’re not wrong about this being partly related to Gin-chan. He’s not the guy I’m referring to, though.”

Dreading her next answer, Sougo gulped down his nervousness and persisted. “T-then,” he cursed at himself for stuttering. “Who is it?” Kagura stopped, causing Sougo to crash into her back. When she turned back to face him, her cheeks were slightly pink and she narrowed her eyes at him. His body relaxed at the familiarity with which her expression brought. “Look in a goddamn mirror.” With that, she stalked off and left Sougo a little dazed. However, after registering her words in his brain, he recovered quickly and raced to catch up to her.

Once he had gotten within a metre of Kagura’s back, he pounced and enveloped her with his large frame. In no time, he was effectively weighing the girl down by draping himself onto her back. “Could it be that you were studying this hard to try to get into my uni?” he exclaimed, not the least bit concerned with whether or not Kagura would be able to support his weight. I’d be surprised if she weren’t able to carry me. A grunt was the only reply he got from the girl beneath him as she dragged his weight – in addition to her books – home. “Wait,” he suddenly shouted out, practically strangling Kagura with his grip. “So you still like me?” Another grunt. “I like you, too, oi! Does this mean we can beat the crap out of each other again?”

This time, her grunt was accompanied by something that sounded like “wasn’t this guy meant to be a sadist?” “My offer to marry you still stands, you know?” Sougo continued. “Make me food and we’ve got a deal.” “Eh – come on, Mrs Piggy! You’ll get fat if you eat too much, you know?” Kagura’s eye twitched at his response. “Can we break up now, please?” she half-begged, half-demanded. “It’s been two minutes.” Kagura stopped walking. “Could you also, you know, get off my back?” Sougo’s grip tightened. “Nope.”

When Kagura – eventually – made her way home, she was met at the front door by a very worried Gintoki. “Young lady, do you have any idea what time it is-?!” Then, he noticed the very familiar face draped on his daughter’s back. “What are you-?” he began to ask. “Uh, good evening, dad?” Sougo interjected.

Kagura’s palm met her face. Gintoki’s foot made similar contact to Sougo’s face. Only the impact was harder. Much harder.

Author’s Note

And that, my friends, is really the end! Thank you so much for your support all the way through.

I don’t know when I’ll next write a story, nor do I know if the story will be an OkiKagu, but we’ll see when the time comes eh? (Though, to be honest, I’m so in love with the OkiKagu pairing my next fic probably will be an OkiKagu. And since Gintama isn’t the kind of manga that I expect romance from, well I can only have my imagination. Eheh.)

Fun bit of trivia: I was inspired to write this story after reading Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus. It goes absolutely nothing the same, but I really liked the whole idea of the Romeo and Juliet romance and how the lovers are on opposing teams. I just decided to give it more of a Gintama twist, and… Well, I wasn’t gonna kill off our adorable main characters like Shakespeare did, so here we are! The Night Circus was also a bit of a fun read, so give it a go if you ever get the chance.

Well then, guys – until next time!

[yokailovesugar]

Unexpected Part 17

This is an Ulquihime fanfic I wrote. This is Part 17

Enjoy!

More chapters will be on the way for this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or it's amazing characters that all belongs to Kubo Tite.

*I also do not own the Japanese historical figures that appear in this fanfic or actual Kyoto Sightseeing places* I don't any of the artists, songs mentioned in this fanfic,

Ulquiorra Cifer and Orihime Inoue and other Bleach Characters (c) Kubo Tite

More Bleach Characters will be appearing as this story continues.

PART 17

LOCATION: Complete Darkness (Time unknown)

Ulquiorra is in the darkness and sees a ghost of himself as the Arrancar he once was.

Ulquiorra reaches out to the apparition of his former self but it disappears.

[MALE VOICE]

Ulquiorra you disappoint me.

Ulquiorra' green eyes widen hearing the voice.

[MALE VOICE]

Bring me the woman.

Ulquiorra's green eyes snap open.

Ulquiorra wakes up in a break of sweat.

LOCATION: IKEDAYA INN IN KYOTO, JAPAN. (Early Morning)

The sound of Rain is heard hitting the windows.

[ORIHIME]

Ulquiorra what's wrong?

[ULQUIORRA]

Nothing. Go back to sleep Onna.

Orihime touches his forehead and feels sweat on her fingers.

[ORIHIME]

You're sweating I'll get a towel.

Orihime starts to get up but Ulquiorra grabs her hand pulling her hand back to his hot forehead.

[ULQUIORRA]

Just... stay.

[ORIHIME]

Ok, but what scared you?

[ULQUIORRA]

Nothing scared me, Onna.

[ORIHIME]

Ulquiorra, you obviously had a nightmare it's ok to admit that.

Ulquiorra closes his green his eyes while not responding,

[ORIHIME]

He did this same thing when he fell asleep in my room and he wouldn't tell me about that dream either, instead, he just got mad at me because I called him Ulquiorra-Kun. Orihime thinks to herself.

[ORIHIME]

Ulquiorra, I want to have a baby.

Ulquiorra's green eyes widen.

[ULQUIORRA]

Now?

[ORIHIME]

Of course not. I mean after we're married. I was thinking about the future.

Ulquiorra sighs.

[ULQUIORRA]

You know my past, so why subject yourself to that misery?

[ORIHIME]

It's not misery bringing a child into the world it is a joy.

[ULQUIORRA]

Did you not read the report from the hospital? I did and it wasn't positive.

[ORIHIME]

How did you? I hid it.

[ULQUIORRA]

Who do you think I am?

Orihime bites her lip.

[ORIHIME]

Damn, nothing gets past him. Orihime thinks to herself.

[ULQUIORRA]

It said OUR child could carry the gene of TB because it runs in my family.

[ORIHIME]

That doesn't mean OUR child would have it Ulquiorra it's only an estimate.

[ULQUIORRA]

It's a high probability.

[ORIHIME]

I'm willing to take that risk.

[ULQUIORRA]

Why?

[ORIHIME]

I wish to have a family with you.

[ULQUIORRA]

Isn't fine just the two of us?

[ORIHIME]

Yes, but don't you want to be a Father?

[ULQUIORRA]

.......................................................

[ORIHIME]

And Medical care and medicine have come a long way since the 1800's. I want to have a family of our own, Ulquiorra.

Ulquiorra sighs.

Ulquiorra turns over with his back toward Orihime.

[ORIHIME]

Hey, we are having a heart to heart right now.

[ULQUIORRA]

Haven't I heard this topic already?

[ORIHIME]

No, there are more parts to it.

[ULQUIORRA]

How many parts are there to the heart?

[ORIHIME]

infinite amount.

[ULQUIORRA]

Ridiculous.

Ulquiorra covers himself with the blanket.

[ORIHIME]

Ulquiorra?

[ULQUIORRA]

Go to sleep Orihime!

[ORIHIME]

I'm cold Ulquiorra.

[ULQUIORRA]

Then dress warmer.

Orihime clicks her tongue.

[ULQUIORRA]

And get under the blankets.

[ORIHIME]

I'm still cold.

Ulquiorra sighs.

[ORIHIME]

You... Warm me up, Ulquiorra. I'm cold!

Ulquiorra turns over and hovers over Orihime.

Orihime pushes him off her.

[ORIHIME]

That's not what I meant!

[ULQUIORRA]

Then don't say suggestive things, Onna if that's not what you mean.

[ORIHIME]

I wasn't! You took it the wrong way!

[ULQUIORRA]

You told me to warm you up! How else would I take that?

Ulquiorra frowns.

Orihime just sighs while wrapping Ulquiorra arms around her while resting her cheek on his chest.

[ORIHIME]

I meant like this.

[ULQUIORRA]

You are indeed strange, Onna.

[ORIHIME]

Ulquiorra, How do you think Ichigo and Uryu doing?

[ULQUIORRA]

You have some nerve Onna speaking of other men while in my arms.

Orihime pecks Ulquiorra on the lips.

Ulquiorra sighs.

[ULQUIORRA]

You are my only opponent I can not win against.

[ORIHIME]

So that must mean I have gotten stronger, Ulquiorra?

[ULQUIORRA]

You, were always a Strong woman in my eyes, Onna.

Ulquiorra brushes a strand of red hair behind her ear.

Orihime smiles at Ulquiorra then rests her head on the number 4 tattooed on his chest.

[ORIHIME]

I feel kind of guilty I'm in paradise being in Ulquiorra's arms while Ichigo and Uryu are lost in the past. I hope Ichigo and Uryu are doing ok? Orihime thinks to herself while biting her lip.

LOCATION: Alternate Dimension Shinsengumi Headquarters in Kyoto Japan (1864)

[ICHIGO]

I think she went this way.

[URYU]

Excuse me, Sir have you seen a black cat?

[MAN]

Oh, yeah I think it ran into that dojo.

[URYU]

Arigato.

Uryu and Ichigo run into dojo the man was speaking of.

[ICHIGO]

Here Kitty, Kitty.

Ichigo reaches to the cat.

[ICHIGO]

Hello, Kitty.

The cat swipes at him with her claws scratching Ichigo.

[ICHIGO]

OWW! WHAT THE HELL YOU DO THAT FOR FURBALL?!

[URYU]

I don't think she likes you calling her Kitty.

[CAT]

No, I don't.

[ICHIGO]

OH, MY GOD, I WAS RIGHT THAT CAT TALKED!

The cat sighs.

[CAT]

Kurosaki!

[ICHIGO]

Wait, how do you know my name?

[CAT]

Keisuke sent me here.

[URYU]

Are you by any chance Yoruichi Shihoin?

[CAT]

Glad someone is on the same page.

[ICHIGO]

Wait but your Aniki's.

[YORUICHI]

Let's get something straight Ichigo Kurosaki I belong to NO ONE!

She hisses at him.

[ICHIGO]

Ok, I get it, but why are you a cat and not a human?

[YORUICHI]

Being a cat makes it easier to get around. Less suspicion the better especially in these times.

Ichigo nods.

[ICHIGO]

Doesn't Mr. Hat and Clogs miss you?

Uryu and Yoruichi stare at Ichigo like horns are growing out of his head.

[YORUICHI]

Kisuke is who sent me. Haven't you seen Mr. Hat and Clogs or better known as Keisuke Yamanami around here, Kurosaki?

[ICHIGO]

WAIT ARE YOU TELLING ME MR. HAT AND CLOGS IS ANIKI?!

[URYU]

My suspicions were correct.

[YORUICHI]

He's also who sent you both back to the past.

[ICHIGO]

WHAT?! MY OWN BROTHER TRIED TO KILL ME?! THAT BLOODY FOX IS HIM! I'M GONNA KILL HIM WHEN I RETURN AND BREAK HIS MASK WHILE I'M AT IT!

[URYU]

Calm down Ichigo.

[YORUICHI]

I doubt that was his goal, but Kisuke can be extreme with proving his points.

[URYU]

I told you.

[ICHIGO]

How could that Bastard fool me?!

[URYU]

But why are you here?

[YORUICHI]

I was sent to tell you how to get back to present time.

[ICHIGO]

And why are you waiting until now to tell us this?!

[YORUICHI]

Kisuke believed you would figure out how to return on your own once your memories of Okita Soji and Hajime Saito would return, but instead, you are creating problems in history and taking your time staying here. He now has memories that he didn't have before and he's not happy.

[ICHIGO]

EXCUSE ME! WE ALMOST DIED FROM COMING HERE! AND I'M NOT FUCKING HAPPY EITHER!

[YORUICHI]

He's worried about you causing a butterfly effect.

[URYU]

Ichigo is planning to save Keisuke Yamanami.

[ICHIGO]

Jee, thanks for throwing me under the bus!

Yoruichi jumps up till she's at eye level with Ichigo.

[YORUICHI]

There will be no saving your brother! You will follow MY orders, understood?

[ICHIGO]

I can't believe I'm taking orders from a talking cat.

Yoruichi swipes her clawed paw at Ichigo's face.

[ICHIGO]

OK! Just put the claws away!

Yoruichi retracts her claws and jumps down landing on all four paws.

Yoruichi turns around eyes both Ichigo and Uryu

Uryu straightens his obi till it's centered.

[YORUICHI]

Good, Now let's start the training!

[ICHIGO]

Training?

[YORUICHI]

Do you want to get back to your world?

[URYU & ICHIGO]

Yes.

[YORUICHI]

Then take out your swords and let's start.

Uryu and Ichigo take out both their swords and both take battle stances.

LOCATION: Alternate Dimension Shinsengumi Headquarters in Kyoto Japan (1864)

Grimmjow is holding his sword doing practice swings.

Renji is tying his forehead protector that bears the Japanese character for sincerity on it.

[RENJI]

Where's the kid Sano?

[GRIMMJOW]

Probably wiping his ass.

Both laugh.

[RENJI]

I'm Curious to see how Okita and Hajime fair in the tournament.

[GRIMMJOW]

No way Heisuke, we're going down in this tournament, and I'm gonna show that heartless bastard Hijikata I'm better than him too.

[RENJI]

Always competing with the Vice Commander aren't you Sano?

Grimmjow's eyes narrow and he sheathes his sword.

[GRIMMJOW]

That shitty Pretty Boy pisses me off always acting like he's so goddamn better than me!

Grimmjow folds his arms across his chest.

Renji sharpening his sword.

[GRIMMJOW]

Found something interesting Heisuke, in Okita's wallet.

Grimmjow hands a photo to Renji.

Renji puts his sword carefully down while taking the photo from Grimmjow.

Renji looks at the photo of Rukia.

[RENJI]

Who's the beauty?

[GRIMMJOW]

Beats me, but who knew the brat had a woman. I guess Okita didn't listen to the commander.

[RENJI]

It looks like Sano, Okita is hiding secrets from his brothers.

Renji stares at the photo of Rukia.

END OF PART 17

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 18

[masayume85]

I know this may be outdated but to kill my curiosity I want to ask your opinion about: -All actors Heisuke, Saito, Sanosuke -All Hakumyu Musical (from saito hen-shinsengumi kitan hen) Thankyou! ! !

I am so sincerely sorry it took me so long to answer this but let’s get this going, shall we? :) 

Friendly reminder: My opinions are my own. Any criticisms I have are not meant in disrespect. I love these actors and these productions, please never think otherwise.

~Toudou Heisuke~

1. Ikeda Junya (Saitou-hen ~ Heisuke-hen) - I don’t think I could ever have a negative thing to say about Junya. He’s sunshine incarnate, talented, and pretty gosh darn sexy, and he’s brings such a high level of quality to every role he plays that it’s hard not to love him. He’s the fun-loving, caring, and devoted Heisuke that we all know and love from the game. It was so great getting to see him take on the lead role in Heisuke-hen as he had definitely earned it. Junya is just an amazing actor. 

2. Ozawa Ren (Reimeiroku ~ Shinsengumi Kitan) - While I think Renren isn’t the best singer, when I translate Heisuke from game to real life Renren is kind of what I picture. He’s such a ball of energy though. And SMILEY! Good gosh, I feel like it’s prerequisite that all Heisuke’s have nice smiles. I think he brought a good energy to the role and I really enjoyed him for the brief period that he got to be a part of the productions (before Ensemble Stars swallowed him lol).

3. Kizu Tsubasa (HakuMyu Live 2) - Talk about another cutie. He’s joining the cast at such an odd time, not actually being a part of a storied musical in HakuMyu Live 2, but I hope to see more of him in Sano-hen? (*crosses fingers*) He definitely can dance and sing (he’s part of a musical group) and he has a good energy, but with only one show under his belt it’s kind of hard to get a strong opinion on him yet. 

Basically though, I love all the Heisuke’s! I have not met a Heisuke actor I didn’t like. This includes the SSL live action :)  

Putting the rest under the cut because this got loooooong. (No joke I have been at this post for about a week).

~Saitou Hajime~

1. Matsuda Ryo (Saitou-hen ~ Kazama-hen) - Ahahaha, yeah, much like Hiroshi, Ryo is basically Saitou to me and it’s going to take a lot for me to find anyone who can even remotely come close to doing the character the same justice. Ryo is such an incredible actor and it’s so funny because he takes on Saitou’s almost monotone mannerisms and makes it look so effortless. The first time I heard Ryo being natural and himself it was such a shock because of how easily he slips into “Saitou-mode”. He’s just perfect, hands down. I get why he has a huge following. 

2. Hashimoto Shouhei (Heisuke-hen ~ HakuMyu Live 2) - Okay, I know I’m probably unreasonably picky but I’ve never been able to like Shouhei’s Saitou. Which is going to sound like I don’t like Shouhei, but I do–I mean, have you seen him? He’s adorable and I want to cuddle him. But where Ryo was able to naturally assume Saitou’s persona, Shouhei feels forced to me. You can tell that he doesn’t normally speak like that and when they had him sing “Kawaranaimono” in HakuMyu Live 2 I just... no baby, no. As adorable as he is and as good as I know he is in other shows (clearly he appeals because he’s been a busy boy lately) he just doesn’t feel like Saitou for me. It’s been several musicals now and I was hoping that my opinion might change with time but it hasn’t :/ He’s a cutie but he’s just not Saitou.

~Harada Sanosuke~

1. Ono Kento (Saitou-hen ~ HakuMyu Live) - I have to be honest, the only thing that ever keeps me from saying that the original cast is perfect is probably Kento. I adore Kento but much like Shouhei he never really fit the role of Sano to me (weak emphasis on this being solely my opinion and not something people should take to heart or anything). And I honestly didn’t realize just how much I felt this way until he left and the role had to be recast. Maybe it’s because I identify him much more with other roles he’s done (thank you Messiah) but while his energy and chemistry with Junya and Shuuto was perfect, when forced to rank Sano actors he’s probably my least favorite.

2. Igarashi Maasa (Kazama-hen ~ Heisuke-hen) - Then we have Maasa. When he came along in Kazama-hen I remember specifically thinking, “Now this is more like Sano.” I adore Maasa, he’s such a lovable nerd and he handled being a newbie into a primarily original cast with such ease you’d think he’d been there all along. I only wish he’d gotten a chance to stick around longer ❤

3. Higashi Keisuke (Reimeiroku ~ Sano-hen) - Ahahahahahaha. What was life before I knew Keisuke?  No joke, looking back on everything, I think the reason we never got Sano-hen when we were supposed to could be because there might have been the feeling, in the deciding factors of the show, that there wasn’t an actor who could carry the story. Now, this is literally only my theory and it’s probably wrong anyway, but it stems mainly from a blog post Keisuke wrote after Sano-hen was announced (back in August, wtf Marvelous where is the rest of the cast announcement?!) where Keisuke mentioned that Mouri (the director) told him that he, “wants to make Sano-hen with Keisuke.” Again, I’m probably entirely wrong and I know all of this sounds completely unfair to Kento or Maasa, but given that they just scrapped everything and started over, there’s always going to be guesses as to what happened. 

Anyway, (christ this got away from me) Keisuke is such a good Sano it basically borders on disgusting. He has a voice gifted from the heavens and oh my god have you seen him? Basically, I’m planning to fly halfway across the world to see Sano-hen in person because I just have to see this myself. It’s been a long time coming and expectations are high but I’m confident knowing that whatever happens at least Keisuke will be amazing.

~Okita Souji~ 

1. Hirose Daisuke (Saitou-hen ~ Kazama-hen) - So, anyone who knows me, or has followed me for any length of time, knows that I have a weird, complicated relationship with Souji. He’s not my favorite and I’m not really into guys who threaten to kill people for fun but y’know, when it comes to the musicals you better believe the instant Daisuke is flirting with the audience I am shrieking with the rest of them. Dainyan is just. so. good! Okita-hen was my first taste of the Hakuouki musicals and Daisuke just did such an incredible job. I never thought anyone could be more Souji than Daisuke.

2. Aramaki Yoshihiko (Reimeiroku ~ HakuMyu Live 2) - Enter Aramaki, and then I promptly had to rework my thoughts. Please never make me choose who I like more as Souji. I can’t do it and I won’t do it lol. I don’t know how I can elaborate more. Granted, if they ever have Aramaki sing in English more they really do need to work on his pronunciation, but he moves sooooo good! *_*

~Nagakura Shinpachi~

1. Miyazaki Shuuto (Saitou-hen ~ Kazama-hen) - I will forever miss Shuuto and he’s rolling r’s and the fire he brought to role. When I think of the cast change I always feel like Junya, Maasa, and Shuuto were the ones who seem to have been short-changed, but it was Shuuto’s blog post after the fact, especially, that really made me think they weren’t quite done with HakuMyu. That thought will probably forever sadden me, but it’s really been great to see him keeping busy with other productions. Shuuto was such a great Shinpachi and I’ll always secretly be hoping that they’ll bring him back.

2. Ino Hiroki (Reimeiroku ~ Shinsengumi Kitan) - Of course, that’s not to say that Hiroki isn’t a good Shinpachi either. He didn’t stick around long (because man his star rose fast) but I think he really did his best to carry the mantle. I remember early after the Reimeiroku cast announcements Hiroki was so excited to get to finally be a part of the musicals, since it was something he long wanted to be cast in. I can’t express how adorable his enthusiasm was. This kid had been admiring the Hakuouki musicals for a while and so he said when he got the call that he had been cast that it was like a dream come true. He really wanted to do justice to Shinpachi and to please the fans even during a difficult time and I think he managed to succeed. I will always have fond feelings for Hiroki. 

3. Fukuyama Shodai (HakuMyu Live 2) - This boy didn’t give me any in-costume selfies to work with lol, which is so unfortunate because he’s another cutie (when are these guys not though?). It’s still too soon to really make any definitive comments on him. I feel like he did well enough in Live 2 but I probably need to watch it at least another fifty times like the others before I’m sure XD

[razberryyum]

Gintama manga chap 700

~

Dear Gintama gods and Sorachi-sama,

THANK YOU! THANK YOU FOR FINALLY LETTING THE YOROZUYA SEE AND ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OTHER!! So CLOSE! SO UNBELIEVABLY CLOSE! I CRIED! I wish they were actually in front of him so that they could finally have a proper hug together, but the fact that they actually got to lay eyes on him and support him was enough to make my eyes well up with happy tears. Their heart-breakingly desperate expressions as they called out to Gin-chan and his touching response in return made my heart clench up even more. I loved that he fought off the enemy with their weapons. I wish they could fight all the enemies off together, side-by-side or back-to-back again. Sorachi-sama, you’re really so cruel. How much longer must we wait for a real Yorozuya family reunion?  

Still, I’m glad that everyone is getting closer and closer to Gintoki but again, I wish there wasn’t so much rushing.  I mean, finally, you granted one of my wishes from a long time ago and actually let Otae join in on the fighting this time around, but we didn’t even have time to enjoy it because everyone is rushing along. I know that sounds ridiculous considering the dire circumstances they’re under and the fact that they’re rushing for a good purpose, but for example, that moving exchange between Shinpachi, Kagura and the Shinsengumi boys happened almost so quickly and matter-of-factly that it didn’t feel like anyone even had the chance to digest it. And it was such a touching exchange too!  I had to stop a moment to cope with the emotions their words brought on. Tears flowed from my eyes because I was suddenly overcome with sadness. Even though their sentiments were composed of hope and joy and promise, their words also sounded so final that my heart started hurting. Why must this be the last time of anything?  I want the Yorozuya and Shinsengumi to be friends...forever...helping each other and thanking each other always. Sure, they can also hurl insults at each other, but I don’t want their relationship to only be based on snide remarks and snappy comebacks. I want to see them sit down together, share meals, share drinks, watch the rain, and have friendly tussles in the river bank or wherever else that may suit them. And it’s not just because I ship half of them to each other, but rather, I think after all they have been through, they have more than earned friendships to last a lifetime. Therefore, seeing any of them say “last time in this life” about anything simply fills me with gloom and a little fear since it also sounds foreboding. Not that I think anything would happen to the Shinsengumi...or, I should say, I hope not...but I would also be lying if I said I wasn’t a little worried.

Strangely enough, what I never worried about through the entire chapter was whether or not Takasugi was going to live. I know he came close to becoming dust particles a la Cyclops pirate Batou, but I still wasn’t convinced that would really be his end since he still hadn’t met up with Matako and Henpeita yet. I don’t think you would be cruel enough to deny them their last moment with the man whom they have followed most of their lives, especially Matako who lives him so much, so until that reunion happens, I have faith that you will continue to let Takasugi live. It was heartening once again to see the Joui boys fighting together as one unit united under the teachings of their beloved teacher; even though Zura was physically separated from Gintoki and Takasugi, it was obvious that spiritually he was still fighting there beside them. I especially loved that since Oboro’s blood was flowing through Takasugi, he was essentially fighting alongside them as well. I hope wherever he is, he will be just as proud and satisfied of the outcome his fellow classmates—nay, brothers will be able to accomplish to finally give the being that was once their teacher its final rest.  

I know the general hubub has been that the next chapter will be the end, but honestly, Sorachi-sama, I don’t believe it. Not because I’m in denial, but I honestly cannot for the life of me see how you can possibly end everything in just one short chapter, whether it be 50 pages or 100 pages long. Just thinking about what you would have to cover in the next chapter to even end the battle on the ship—Sadaharu finally reviving and quelling the Altana stream (WHOO-HOO!!!!! PUPPY SAVES THE WORLD!!!!), the defeat of the (pardon me) stupidass Tendoshuu old farts (or Tendenists or whatever the hell they decide to call themselves next, I’m sorry, I really hate them) Takasugi’s ultimate fate, Baby Utsuro’s ultimate fate, Yorozuya’s full reunion, everyone’s full reunion—is enough to overwhelm me and give me a headache. I know you are always amazing, but realistically speaking, how could you tie all of those loose ends in neat, satisfying bundles in just one chapter’s length? If you were given the entire volume of the next Jump Giga, it still might not be enough but at least that will be better than just a mere chapter.  

Unless, perhaps in the end, your intention was never to conclude Gintama in just three issues of Giga anyway? Perhaps you will indeed be ending the battle portion of this leg of the arc in the next chapter (“Climax of the climactic battle”), but then save all the more emotional moments—the reunions and final fates our two “villains” (yes, I do count Takasugi, since I will not forget that  at one time, he was THE villain of the series before Utsuro reared his crow head again) and, hopefully, everyone’s future outlook, for the next set of Giga volumes? I will be completely fine with that, Sorachi-sama. Of course ideally, I wish there will never be the end, but I will take any more Gintama I can get even if it means waiting longer and for only a finite number of chapters.  

But as we head into the next chapter, I would like to make one humble request: if Takasugi were to finally reach his immortal limit and therefore meet his mortal end, please let Bansai be the one to lead him to the other side. I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m already resigned to the possibility we may very well lose Takasugi when this battle is over, and in many ways, I think that is probably the best ending for him. At least he will die a hero again and not a villain as he used to be, but I still want his journey to the afterlife to be a good one, so I hope Bansai will be by his side so his final trip will not be so lonely.  Your consideration is greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,

A silly fangirl with yaoi dreams

(^3^)

[dietarysalad]

Street War – Chapter 19

“Gin-chan, you idiot!” Kagura yelled, to the agreement of most of the rest of the Yorozuya members in the room. Their hideout was well-sized, having been repurposed out of an abandoned school building, and comfortably fit the entirety of the Yorozuya. It did not take much effort to round up all of the members – outside of the Yorozuya activities, no-one had much to do.

“I cannot believe that you let yourself be played by that Shinsengumi dog!” she continued, her voice grating against Gintoki’s ears. “And you call yourself our leader?!” Gintoki sighed. “Now, now – I’m drunk and I don’t need my daughter adding to my headache,” he declared, massaging his temples with his index and middle fingers. “What’s done is done, and it’s not like I can go back and undo it now. We’re just gonna have to fight and deal with whatever consequences come out of it should we lose.”

From her seated position by the window, Otae scoffed. “My, my,” she haughtily breathed out, her arms crossed over her weapon of choice – a long wooden rod. “Kagura-chan’s right. I cannot believe our leader has become such a weakling.” “Huh?” came Gintoki’s confused reply. Next to Otae, Shinpachi fixed the positioning of his glasses. ““Deal with whatever consequences come out of it should we lose”, you say?” the bespectacled boy reiterated. “You sound like you’ve lost your will to fight, already.” There were murmurs amongst the Yorozuya. Gintoki’s eyes narrowed. ““Lost [my] will to fight”? I’ve got enough will for the lot of you!” he proclaimed, standing up to address the entirety of his gang.

The previously downcast mood of the room suddenly changed, doubtful murmuring switching to jubilant cheers. All of the members of the gang rose and either struck their weapons together or crossed fists in glee. “Don’t worry, Gintoki! Even if you’re an idiot, we’ll still follow you to the ends of the Earth!” At Gintoki’s side, Tsukuyo and Kamui smiled as they watched the members of the Yorozuya show their delight with violence and skinship. Both turned their gaze to the man who stood tall at the forefront of the Yorozuya. This was the man that they had chosen to follow – only the White Demon could tame this pack of ruffians with little more than a few words in their direction. “Those Shinsengumi dogs had better watch their tails, tonight. We’ll paint Tokyo’s streets with their defeat!” A chorus of cheers erupted as the members of the Yorozuya began splitting into their assigned combat groups in preparation for the fight.

Gintoki and Kamui began their walk amongst the groups, maintaining order throughout the chaos. Tsukuyo made to join them, when she noticed a momentary look of conflict flash across Kagura’s face. “Kagura?” Tsukuyo asked, her eyes carrying with them a look of concern. “Is there something wrong?” Kagura looked up, her lips turning upwards in a grin. “Just planning ways to kill that Sadist,” she answered. Tsukuyo nodded. “I see.” Without wasting too much more time, Kagura bounded off towards Shinpachi and Otae, while Tsukuyo trained a worried glance in her direction. Her eyes didn’t smile at me like they usually do.

Sougo watched lazily as Hijikata addressed the other members of the Shinsengumi. He breathed out a deep sigh, tempted to pull his eye-mask down onto his face to take a quick nap. However, he knew that Hijikata would kill him if he even moved to do it, so he decided that he would be a good boy for once and just sit still. Sougo only vaguely listened to the words coming out of the older man’s mouth and could somewhat gather that Hijikata’s actions were fuelled by Mitsuba’s death. “We’ll honour Mitsuba’s wishes and end this fighting! As soon as the Yorozuya are out of the picture...” or something along those lines, Sougo thought to himself.

In Hijikata’s eyes, Mitsuba’s wish for the fighting between the two gangs to stop could be granted if one of the two gangs was chased off the streets for good. That was Hijikata’s reason for calling such a high-stakes street war between the two gangs. That idiot thinks that taking out the Yorozuya is the way to go, huh? Sougo sighed. He, at least, had enough sense in him to realise that what his sister wanted was not this. He thought back to the day when his sister met with Kagura and how she had expressed a hope that the two gangs would be able to get along. There isn’t much hope of that happening now, sis’.

Sougo’s train of thought halted as his sister’s words made their way into his mind. “Then, if you two get married, will the two groups end up merging together?” He blinked at the memory and quickly shook his head, startling Saitou as well as a small number of Shinsengumi members who were sitting beside him. Gently, he massaged the crease between his eyebrows and as he sighed in frustration at his own brain. There isn’t much hope of that happening, either.

It was a couple of minutes after midnight when the Yorozuya members showed up in the back alleys of Tokyo to start their final street brawl against the Shinsengumi. When the ragtag gang eventually arrived, they found that the members of the Shinsengumi had already showed up long before to set-up shop on the fighting grounds. The men were spaced out behind garbage cans and parked motorcycles. Some crouched in groups out in the open while others lurked in the shadows of the alleyways, their dark outfits making it a little difficult to pick out the gang members from their surroundings.

Gintoki led his gang confidently into the middle of the group of Shinsengumi, his head conked to the side as he gazed lazily at Hijikata. “Even in the bitter end, you still don’t show up on time?” Hijikata mocked, a smoke in hand. “Well,” Gintoki drawled, a little upset that his headache had not quite subsided. “I did say that it’d be at the ‘same time, same place’, and this is the same time I usually show up. Have you never heard of being fashionably late?” “Hmph, don’t play smart with me.” His hand clenched around the baseball bat that he was holding, prompting Gintoki to shift into fighting position with is iron pipe.

“Kondo-san’s pulled some strings tonight with the cops,” Hijikata continued. “I hate to ask him, but we can at least be assured that we won’t be interrupted tonight.” “Oh my,” Gintoki exclaimed with mock disbelief. “The stiff Hijikata-san is playing dirty with the police? That can’t be good for your track record.” “Well, it’s fine to loosen up every so often,” explained Hijikata, allowing his cigarette to drop to the ground. “Like right now!”

Without further warning, Hijikata leapt towards Gintoki with his baseball bat raised high in the air. At his movement, both gangs sped into action. There was very little confusion as the members of each respective gang quickly met in combat with a member of the opposing gang. As the clash of weapons and fists echoed throughout the moonlit streets, Gintoki pushed back against his foe. With practised grace, both the ‘Kings of Tokyo’ leapt over their fallen comrades as they engaged in close-combat, aware that the initial casualties would be high due to the large number of the weaker members of each gang being weeded out.

A couple of metres away from the brawl between Gintoki and Hijikata, Kagura’s attention was focused on the ‘mob’ members of the Shinsengumi. As she obliterated them without a second thought, a chill ran up her spine and she quickly stabbed behind her with her reinforced umbrella. Sougo moved quickly to dodge, using one of his fallen gang members as a spring board. “Christ, China,” he called out with a weary façade. “Slow down, would you? We only have so many members for you to beat down.” “Hmph, are all you Shinsengumi weaklings?” she huffed, glaring at her rival. “I’ve hardly broken a sweat.” Sougo smirked. “Why don’t we change that, then?” Kagura blinked as Sougo rushed in.

While she would have, once, been able to fend off such an upfront attack, Kagura’s whirling emotions dulled her fighting prowess. The closer Sougo’s face got to hers, the less Kagura was able to think rationally. She recoiled as she took more and more hits from her rival, unable to fight back against the young Shinsengumi’s unrelenting attacks. Sougo, on the other hand, was thoroughly confused by the way their fight was progressing. Eight, nine, ten. Ten hits? And she’s hit me – what – once? Usually, their fights were more balanced than this. Feeling a little frustrated, he landed a solid kick to Kagura’s abdomen which knocked her a couple of metres away. “Oi, I hardly think that today is the day to be going soft on me,” he advised, approaching her as he twirled his iron pipe.

Groaning, Kagura slowly stood up. She was definitely a wreck, much more so than Sougo who barely had a speck of dust on his jacket. “Who said I’m going soft?!” she yelled, rolling up her sleeves. Sougo scoffed. “No-one needs to say anything. You’re a loser, sure, but you don’t usually lose this badly.” Kagura dropped her head at his words, her eyebrows knitting together in frustration. In a moment of carelessness, a member of the Shinsengumi gang silently crept up behind her and rounded on Kagura with their wooden board. Sougo’s eyes widened. “Oi-!” However, before his call could make its way to Kagura’s ears, she caught a good hold on the assailant’s weapon and lifted her head toward her rival. A strange look of determination crossed her previously downcast eyes. With as much strength as she could muster, Kagura hurled the Shinsengumi member that had attacked her over her shoulder in Sougo’s direction.

Flinching at the unexpected attack, Sougo was driven back by the force of Kagura’s throw and the weight of the man that had just been thrown at him. In the time that it took him to stand up and push the man’s weight off, Kagura had crossed the few metres separating them and hurled a straight punch into his abdomen. Having been winded by his impact with the ground, Sougo left plenty of openings for the refuelled Kagura, who had abandoned her umbrella in favour of a close-quarters brawl instead. She alternated her punches with kicks, the majority – of which – hit straight on their mark.

However, in the midst of her barrage of attacks, Kagura missed the look of ecstatic glee that flickered on Sougo’s face.

Eventually, the tussle took to the ground as both parties tried to get the upper hand on the other. It was when they had tumbled into an empty alleyway that Sougo was able to pin Kagura’s limbs beneath him. However, in doing so, his own appendages were locked in place. A little unsure as to how to proceed, Sougo could only take the time to catch his breath. If I let go to try to knock her out, I leave her with a free arm. Then, the question is who is faster-?

“Oi, Sadist.” Sougo looked down, startled by the suddenness of Kagura’s words. Slowly, he felt the tension in Kagura’s arms dissipate as she allowed her muscles to relax, her eyes staring straight up at Sougo’s face. “When this fight ends, regardless of who wins or loses, what happens?” she questioned, her voice strangely quiet. He blinked. It was too dark in the alleyway to see Kagura’s expression, so he had no idea of what she was thinking. His mind raced for an answer as a bead of sweat began to trickle down his forehead. What is she trying to say…? “Hey,” Kagura called out once more, her voice bouncing off the enclosed walls of the alley way. “What?” responded Sougo, his voice coming out a little harsher than he had intended.

“Without whatever the hell this is, what exactly am I to you?”

Sougo blinked. Seeing no need to maintain their current position as Kagura had already stopped struggling, he released her and sat back slowly onto his heels. In a crouched position, he rested on the balls of his feet as he watched Kagura sit up slowly. “The only reason we even look at each other is ‘coz of these squabbles,” she mumbled. “We aren’t friends, or anything gross like that. When all this ends, there’s nothing left between us, y’know?” “”Nothing left”…?” he repeated quietly. Kagura looked up at him. “So, what am I to you?”

Without moving too much, Sougo glanced off to the side and asked as appropriate a question as he could think of. “Why do you want to know?” he murmured, partly at her and partly for his own sake. Kagura remained silent, the back of her neck sweating as she chose her next words. “Because I want to crush you?” she managed to squeak. Sougo raised an unconvinced eyebrow. “Do you mean you have a crush on me?” he spoke slowly, leaning in close. Kagura blushed. Now that his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, he could clearly see the red sheen darken Kagura’s cheeks. There was no question about it. He smirked and sorely hoped that she would not notice the heat on his cheeks, either.

“Well, if you must know…” Sougo said through his sly smile. He aimed a kick at her side, which was neatly dodged by Kagura who pushed off the ground into a somersault. “For a piggy, I think you’re pretty cute.” Sougo was not sure of whether or not Kagura had completely registered his words when she aimed a fly kick at his shoulder, knocking him out of the alleyway. The angered and embarrassed look on her face, however, told him that she had at least heard the ‘piggy’ part.

Grabbing her umbrella as she ran out of the alleyway, Kagura made to strike down upon her ‘hated’ rival with her favourite weapon. Sougo jumped up to dodge the incoming umbrella, which he was sure weighed more than a couple of kilograms. He landed in front of Kagura and aimed a punch at her face. Taken by surprise, Kagura did not have the time to dodge and only managed to block his incoming attack with her arm. The crack that she heard echoed loudly and she quickly roundhouse kicked him in the shin in vengeance. The resounding crack from his leg satisfied her as she leapt backwards in a wary fashion. “Both you damn siblings…!” he swore as he lowered his stance to place some stress off his leg. “My stupid broken arm just healed, China!”

From the way that he was favouring his right leg, Kagura could tell that Sougo would not be getting much use out of it for the rest of the night. She tested her left arm and found its movement stiff. Same could be said for me. From the corner of his eye, Sougo noticed her dilemma. “Don’t tell me we’re both out of commission for tonight,” he hissed, placing his arms up in a guarded postion. She turned angrily to point at him with her umbrella using her good arm. “Well, it certainly is not my fault!” she yelled. “You broke my arm first – you got what you deserved!” She lowered herself into a fighting stance, twirling her umbrella threateningly. “And I only need one arm to beat the stuffing out of you, anyway.” He scoffed. “Hardly.”

Quickly, Sougo scanned the streets. While the Shinsengumi far outnumbered the Yorozuya, Gintoki’s gang members were all well-seasoned fighters. Even with lower fewer members, they had managed to dwindle the numbers of the Shinsengumi. After a half an hour into the fight, it seemed that the majority of each gang had been taken out. On the Shinsengumi’s side, only Kondo, Sougo and Hijikata remained standing. The Yorozuya only had three members remaining, as well – they were Gintoki and his two children. As far as Sougo was concerned, the match between himself and Kagura could only end in a tie. That meant that whether or not the Shinsengumi would win would be decided by whether or not Kondo and Hijikata could push Kamui and Gintoki to the ground.

Having been ganged up on by a large number of the Shinsengumi beforehand, Kamui had been tired out and was having a bit of trouble fighting back against Kondo. His fists did not carry the same impact that they once had and the older Shinsengumi member was quite well-equipped to fend off Kamui’s offences. Kagura, having noticed this fact, eyed Sougo warily before sprinting towards her brother. Sougo’s eyes widened with the startling realisation that Kagura had disappeared and, with his limp, he was unable to catch up to her as she flew over to Kamui’s aid. Moving swiftly, Kagura made use of her athleticism and used her good arm as a brace on the ground to support her weight. She lifted her legs and made quick work of kicking away Kondo’s fire-extinguisher. Kondo’s surprise allowed ample time for Kamui to knock the larger man out with a swift, hard kick to the temple.

“Kondo-san!” called out Hijikata as his friend went down. With Hijikata’s loss of attention, Gintoki took the opportunity to wrestle the Shinsengumi leader’s baseball bat from his hands, tossing it to Kamui. After he had successfully removed Hijikata’s weapon, Gintoki struggled against his rival in close combat, eventually managing to lock Hjikata’s arms behind his back. “Two against three,” Gintoki announced, glancing at Sougo as his two children ran to his side. “You’re weapon-less and the boy over there isn’t faring too well, either. There’s no need to continue on with the pointless fighting.”

Sougo silently agreed with Gintoki. He glanced over at Kagura to check on her condition, only to find her giving him a nervous stare. When his eyes met with hers, she quickly ducked behind her brother. He raised an eyebrow as she furiously turned her head away from him. Feeling embarrassed already are we, China? However, he was brought out of his musings by Hijikata’s voice. “Hmph, I’d rather go down fighting,” the man declared as he began to struggle once more at Gintoki’s grip. However, the Yorozuya leader would not relinquish his hold. He used his leg to slide under Hijikata’s feet and pushed him to the ground, laying his foot carefully on the fallen man’s back.

After ensuring that he had locked Hijikata in place, Gintoki wrapped his arms around Kagura and Kamui, pulling them so that they both stood at his sides. “Listen, I don’t mind fighting. Trust me. However,” he gently pat Kagura’s cheek, which had begun to bruise. “Big, gigantic fights like this with actual stakes? No fun.” Hijikata stiffened. “The stakes were in place to get one of us off the streets, to stop this fighting in a satisfactory manner,” he rationalised. “Like Mitsuba would’ve wanted.” Sougo turned his head. “My sister wanted the fighting to stop, Hijibaka,” he deadpanned. “Trying to stop the fighting by using more fighting isn’t exactly gonna work.” Hijikata looked lost. “But… Fighting is the only thing that guys like us have ever known. How exactly are we meant to settle things without duking it out?”

Sougo thought back once more to his sister’s words. “Well, I suppose I could always marry China and merge our gangs that way-“ In half a second, Sougo was cut off by an iron pipe flying at his face. He narrowly managed to dodge it, his hands risen in surrender. “What. Did. You. Say?” Gintoki growled, clutching the very red Kagura to his chest. “I don’t think I quite caught that.” In response, Sougo acted out his best impression of a pure, innocent child while Kamui watched in amusement. “I wonder how monstrously strong your babies will be!” pondered the older Sakata sibling. “Oi.” “Yes, dad?” Kamui answered amiably. “Your sister isn’t marrying anyone until she’s thirty and especially not that Sadist King, okay?”

Hijikata glanced at the four, a little taken aback at how easily they managed to banter with one another. He looked at his shoes. “Merging, huh?” he murmured. Sougo looked back at Hijikata. “Well, both of our groups are pretty much doing the exact same type of thing, anyways,” he stated. “Merging wouldn’t be too hard. In the first place, I don’t think the Yorozuya boss’ group are as blood thirsty as the guys in our group, so we can expect very little protest on their end.” As he continued, Sougo’s eyes began to soften. “And, well, if they hear that it’s what sis’ would have wanted, I’m sure that our guys will be up for it, too.”

As Gintoki released Kagura, she turned in her father’s arms to face Hijikata. “Our boss is usually the stupid one, so I was surprised to find out that this whole ‘final gang fight’ was your idea,” she bluntly announced. At her words, Hijikata furrowed his brow and looked at the younger girl. “I only had to meet her once to recognise that she was as good a person as they come,” she continued, turning her head upwards towards the moon. “Even if she hated fighting, she understood that there was very little malice behind our usual gang rough ups.” She paused to look back at Hijikata who had turned back down to look at the ground. “I’m sure that, if she had to choose between our usual tussles and what happened tonight,” Kagura gestured to the bruised bodies lying unconscious across the street, “she would much rather our usual fights.”

Sougo whistled. “I guess even the idiot China can be smart sometimes.” Kagura glared at him. “Why couldn’t he have inherited some of his sister’s gentle and kind personality…?” she wondered aloud, bringing a hand up to massage between her eyebrows. Hijikata chuckled, tousling Sougo’s hair in the process. “Sometimes I wonder that, too,” Hijikata agreed. His young ward made a face that was not befitting of an eighteen-year-old and shook Hijikata’s hand away. Gintoki smiled at the scene. “Well, that’s it for tonight,” he declared. “Gather up the bodies and bandage them up. When you’re ready, contact me and we can talk about that gang merge. Which would you prefer – the ‘Yorogumi’ or the ‘Shinsenzuya’?”

Hijikata cocked his head and gave a defeated sigh. “Guess there’s no choice, huh?” he muttered. Gintoki turned, his kids having already run off to help the injured. Sougo stalked off to do the same for the Shinsengumi, shaking Saitou awake to give him a hand. However, before Hijikata could walk away, Gintoki spoke once more. “Oh, one thing.” “Hm?” “Can you, like, call or text me like a normal person? Letters are so twentieth century.”

Author’s Note

And--! That’s the end.

I’m just joking – goodness no! I’ve still got an epilogue coming after this one. So, if you’re not yet satisfied, please hold on!

[razberryyum]

Gintama anime ep 317/manga chaps 552 - 554

Dear Gintama gods and Sorachi-sama,

Since I’ve written to you at length already regarding all of the chapters that will be brought to life by the anime, I will spare you the trouble of having to put up with me rehashing the same material (even if said material will ALWAYS be worthy of rehashing). I know I bother you enough already with my boring missives every time a new chapter is released, so instead, for this new season of the anime, I will just show you what I am grateful for as I enjoy each new episode. Thank you so much for making all this possible, and please don’t let this be the last season of the show.

I am thankful for the following:

- Just, the return of the anime. I’m so happy the Yorozuya and the rest of the gang are once again gracing our television screens!

- The monster’s very human and very loveable child. We see Gintoki every week in the manga, but somehow, seeing him in action and hearing his voice again made me feel as if we haven’t seen him for ages (even though it’s only been like 9 months?). Loved the artistry in these two scenes below too.

- the new opening sequence and theme. So PERFECT! I can imagine Kagura singing that song. I am not ashamed to admit I got a bit teary-eyed as I was reminded of all the drama that lies ahead.

- Elizabeth’s testicles. Gin-chan should be happy that monstrosity didn’t permanently maim him.

- the inclusion of the Shinsengumi in the OP credits and as a flashback. I know that is probably all we’ll get of them for quite some time, but I’m still glad they’re a part of the OP.

- Zura. I will always be grateful for Zura. His increased presence in this arc does somewhat lessen the sting of the boys in black’s absence.

- Nobume, who is still so pretty and whose mention of Isaburo still makes me weepy.

- Matako. It must have been so hard for her to heed Banzai’s words and leave Takasugi behind, so for that, I do appreciate her.

- my favorite pirate power couple.

- Sleeping beauty. Just because I was wondering when the hell he would wake up for so long that it became a running joke in my mind.

- Impending Yato family drama. CAN’T WAIT! Though I wish they kept Rouka in shadows in the OP and ED until she actually showed up in the anime.

- the STUNNING ED sequence!! OMFG. I almost screencapped every image! I hope ALL of them are released as POSTERS and I cannot WAIT to see people cosplay those outfits! I also love that it is in honor of our baby China girl and her family.

Yours truly,

A silly fangirl with yaoi dreams

(^3^)