"Hey, watch where you're going!" This can't be possible! Otose-san can't be..! No.. i shouldn't let my thoughts run wild. I need to get there as soon as possible!
A few minutes ago
I was taking orders from my customers as usual when the telephone went off. "Hello, Edo Paradise speaking. How may I-" "Hanae-san" Tama's ragged breathing made me halt on my words. "Tama? Hey, what's wrong? Are you alright?" i asked worriedly. "Hanae-san.. Otose-san.. has been stabbed" "What?!" I gripped on the phone handle tight. "H-Hey c-calm down.. tell me where you are r-right now" after Tama told me the hospital address, i ended the call and let the kids know about this. They told me to go without any worries and that they'd hold down the fort. Patting their heads with a smile, i went off. I heard from a few customers while i was serving them that a fight broke out last night near a graveyard. I didn't think it would have been Otose-san.
Present situation
"Nee-San!" both Shinpachi and Kagura rushed to me as i stepped inside the hall. They ran into my arms and cried. "She'll be fine, she'll be fine" i whispered kissing them both on top of their heads before going towards Catherine. "Hey.." i wrapped my arm around her before pulling her in a hug. "Hanae.. i don't know what I'm gonna do if she doesn't wake. Just a few days ago we made up and now this happened.. i don't wanna lose her" she sobbed in my arms. "You won't. None of us won't. She'll come back like the strong woman she is and then we'll all go home" maybe those were the words i wanted someone to say to me, maybe those were the words i wanted to keep repeating in my head. I was a mess inside but i couldn't let it show to them, not when they're a bigger mess. I'll kill the one who did this.. I'll kill-
"You have no home to return to. There's no place for you here" someone spoke causing us all to turn around. "Mama!" i gasped seeing Saigo-san in front of us. "That fool.. i kept telling her to escape" he sighed. "I'm not going to apologise. There was nothing i could do and there's nothing i can do now. The day after tomorrow.. Edo Paradise and Otose's building will be destroyed by the four devas. You have until them to pack up and leave this town" he said. "Why is this happening?" Shinpachi asked, his face had a horrified look. "The entire Kabukichou district is against you" he replied. "That's not the Mama i know" i spoke before going towards him. "Where's Teruhiko?" i asked him looking straight in the eye. He flinched before averting his eyes. "They appear to be testing me. There are things I'll do anything to protect. What about you? Can you handle them all, Hanae-chan ?" "When have i never helped out my family? Tell me the name of who did this" i gritted through my teeth.
"Stop it. I'm closing up the shop" i turned towards the source of the voice. There he was, all bandaged up. "Gin-" "You bastard!" Catherine pushed him to the wall. "Otose-san was left for dead! Her bar was destroyed! And you're just gonna turn tail and run?!" she shouted. "You're telling me to fight? Don't make me laugh. I couldn't even take Jirocho one-on-one" he said. "When did you become so pathetic?! Damn you, Sakata! If you're gonna leave, you can leave by yourself! I won't! I won't!" tears flew down her face. "Hanae! Bring sense to this idiot!" she shouted at me. "Don't you dare say a word to me, Hanae. Do you know why Gran went by herself? To protect us. If you still insist on dying, you're free to stay behind and get yourself killed. Odd Jobs, Gran's bar and Edo Paradise are being closed down. That's final. We're just strangers now, free to do as we please. I'll be just doing that" saying that he walked away. "Gintoki, wait!" "Sorry, i doubt i can protect anything now" he looked over his shoulder at me before going away. You idiot..
------------------------------------------------------------------
To be continued.
