HijiGin - Bittersweet

Chapter 9

Hijikata went back to the headquarters afterwards in a very foul mood, anyone near him would back away as soon as they sensed the dark gray clouds hanging over his head. No sooner had he reached the front gates did his men rush up to him, greeting him and ushering him inside.

Feeling a bit confused about all this, Hijikata just went along to see what was going on. He was lead into a room where he saw Kondo-san and saluted.

"Kondo-san, what did you call me here for?"

The air was so thick, even a butter knife wouldn't be able to cut through. Hijikata knew that he meant business, so he sat down across his captain and silently urged him to continue.

"Toshi. I know that this may be hard on you...No, it's hard on all of us, but I thought that I'd tell you this before I announce it."

Just what is so important for him to be this serious? Did our intel get leaked? Our troops ambushed? Hijikata began to unconsciously pile up situations after situations, only for Kondo-san's voice to cruelly shatter his imagination.

"Sougo is dead."

"Wha-!"

Did Hijikata hear wrong? Okita was dead? He trembled at the thought and calmed himself down, or at least on the surface. "When?"

"Today. It was around mid-afternoon. The nurse in charge found him dead when she went to check up on him." Kondo's voice was quiet, almost as if he was mumbling to himself. But that quiet voice had sounded like a trumpet in Hijikata's ears.

That was when I went to Yorozuya's...

Thinking about that has made Hijikata remember something.

"That's right, Kondo-san, have you seen Yorozuya?"

The reply he got was devastating, maybe even more so than Okita's death.

"...Toshi, I know that this isn't what you want to hear right now, but let me set this straight for you." Kondo looked him sharply in the eyes. "Yorozuya is most likely the killer."

Thud

"Toshi?! Oi, get a hang of yourself! Tsk...Yamazaki, call the doctor, Toshi's collapsed."

Hijikata heard ringing in his ears. It was too much. Everything was just too much. Why, why is this happening. Is this some sort of vengeance from the God above? No, there is no God, not in this rotten world at least. Fatigue got to him and he slowly closed his eyes.

Just what did we do wrong?

---To Gintoki---

If you were just glancing at the man stumbling around like a drunkard, you'd think he's a good-for-nothing (to which he kinda is). But, if you looked a bit closer, you'd notice the wide eyes, the ragged breathing and the cold sweat dripping off his face.

His silver hair shielded his eyes from judgement, but also unknowingly invited it. He didn't care, though, not when he'd just done that. His mind betrayed him as the memories from an hour ago flooded his head with vivid images.

In his memories, he saw himself...or at least on the surface it was him. He was wearing a very familiar expression. One he used when he was still more famously known as 'the White demon', or 'Shiroyasha'.

In front of him was the one they'd call a super sadist, Okita Sougo. He lied on the bed, clutching his neck. His air supply has been cut, and he writhed in pain, slowly suffocating. He let out raspy groans as he tried to breathe in air.

His lungs, however, betrayed him and rejected it...and he had to pay for it with his life. He gave one last attempt to live before falling limply. His pupils slowly expanded, saliva dribbling out his mouth.

And, for as long as he'd live, Gintoki would never forget the look on the dying mortal's face.

That look that implied,

It's your fault.

"Guh..."

Gintoki clasped a hand tightly around his mouth and looked for a place to puke. Ducking into an alleyway, he let the foul mixture leave his mouth. He wiped his mouth and stood up straighter.

"Kagura, Shinpachi...I'm sorry."

  Gintoki let a tear slip down his cheek.

"I'm sorry for everything."

That's right, it's all your fault.

It's all my fault...

You did this.

I...did this.

You killed him.

You betrayed them.

You are a burden.

But...

  You don't need to suffer.

  Accept my presence, and I will help you.

  Gintoki knew he should resist, fight back, but he was too tired. His eyes have lost their shine.

  ...Fine, do what you want.

  It's already over for me anyway.

And, as if on cue, Gintoki felt his powers surge; his pupils widened and brought with them a different glow. He welcomed this feeling of control, power. He savoured it like a drug and breathed in the scent of his next prey.

Ah...there he is.

Hijikata Toshiro.

--- A/N --- Skip it if you want to
  Ahem, look. I was meaning to post this like a week or two ago but I kept reading over it and thinking 'my god is this grim' but I really couldn't change anything without changing the previous chapter too I was just like oh screw it. Why not.

And at first I was going to make Gintoki a demon of some sorts but then it wasn't really that original so I just did it as a soul-possessing evil spirit thing.

  Anyway, thanks for reading this crappy fanfic, I really mean it. Never thought to get more than, like, 10 views? XD But yeah, every view, vote and comment (still none ;~;) counts so if you have some spare time please show me that you've enjoyed reading it and click the little star on the bottom of the page!
 
  Trust me, it only takes 2 seconds.

  Well then, byeeee~! >~0