Gintama; Takasugi X Reader (part 2) [Save Me]

Chapter 7 {Y/N}

     People walk from every direction and stop by the many booths. Food stalls are the liveliest. Different aromas mingle in the morning air, accompanied by the noises of the activities all around. Smoke rises from a booth ahead. Judging from the scent of it, I have a huge suspicion on smoked fish.

Senya and I pad through the market side by side. I was first surprised to find out about the fair, which Senya stated that this section of the village was where the folks sell their handiwork and get their food from. I had been commuting to my workplace too early to witness it. Well, my former workplace I should say. Dwelling on the past won't change anything. And it isn't something worthy of dwelling upon.

     "Don't just stand there," Senya says to me when I pause to gape at a deliciously-looking roasted chicken. "What I want to show you is just ahead. We can come back to this later. Come on." She nudges me after her. Casting the meat a mournful look, I walk on.

Following the food stalls are mesmerizing accessories put on display. Hairpins, necklaces, bracelets and jewelry-filled combs catch the sunlight and sparkle. They're so gorgeous I want to try them all on. Senya notices my delight and smiles. I wonder where the people get all of those beautiful ornaments from, considering the remoteness of this place.

One stall offers strange looking items and curios. Next to it is a stationery booth with stacks of newspapers and magazines. A glittering navy blue pen catches my attention. Unable to stop myself, I tuck at Senya's sleeve and tell her I'll be back where she's hovering by a comb stall.

I weave my way there and purchase the pen with ease. Just when I'm about to secure it into my sleeve someone bumps into me from my right. I startle at the sudden impact, staggering a step forward. The pen falls from my hand and drops into a muddy spot of the dirt road.

Great.

I turn to find the person responsible, but the folks simply carry on their way, nonchalant. Sighing, I bend to retrieve the muddied pen and move to stand aside so that I won't be hindering the way. An alley stretches out behind me.

I flick the pen in mid-air, attempting to rid of the dirt before wiping it with my fingers. After keeping it safe my gaze roams the throng of buyers for a familiar form. Senya is still at the comb stall it seems. I head toward her. Then a hand appears out of nowhere in front of my face and clutches my mouth before I can utter anything.

I'm dragged into the alley and to a narrower one after a turn. Nobody is at the end of it. The grasp on my face has a nostalgic scent. But before I can figure it out my captor releases me. I whip around.

Recognition spreads from the color of his eyes even before he removes the veil around his face. The shade offered by the walls around us only highlights the flawlessness of his pale skin.

     "What are you doing here?" I accost, on guard.

The Mayor looks like he's just encountered an acquaintance along his way rather than practically abducted one. "I should be asking you the same thing," he says, stepping to me. "Why didn't you come to work today?"

I back away. "You expect me to still work for you after what you've done to me?" An image of yesterday flashes in my mind. If I didn't shove him away and darted off that time...

     "I was just giving us a chance," he says.

I try to detect some sort of mockery or wrath behind his voice, and am confused when I find he really meant it. "'Us' will never work, Shounou," I say, looking at him in the eye. "You will get more chances with other women. Give up on me."

He holds my gaze. For a moment I really think that we would be able to exchange an understanding. But I'm mistaken.

     "As expected," he scoffs.

He doesn't make sense. "What?"

When he meets my eyes now his lips carry a certain sentiment that I don't like. Shounou moves forward, slowly as if he's enjoying the game. "Takasugi Shinsuke," he stops before me, "wasn't it?"

My heart jumps to my throat. I stare up at him. My feet won't move.

     "Is he the reason why you rejected me?" he questions.

My voice disperses in the wind. "What are you-?"

     "Formally landed at Yamanashi shore about two months ago. The nation's most dangerous Jouishishi syndicate, Kiheitai." He allows a slip of a cold smile. "Does that sound familiar?"

     "What do you know?" I admit before I can stop it. I want to slap myself out of this trance. It's not possible.

     "Enough," he says dismissively. "Though I doubt I'd get here without the help of your friend there. She brought it up didn't she? Last night."

Realization dawns a second later. So that explained Momo's suddenly barking. "You were spying on me?" I say, shock and incredulous.

The Mayor shrugs. "As I said, I wanted to know more of you," he states. "That aside, I didn't expect a woman like you to fall for such a lowlife. Causing troubles and wrecking havoc, what's so good about that? It's no different from an animal. And to fall for that standard, I have an idea what sort of woman you actually are-"

My hand flies across his face.

     "What do you know of anything?" I hear myself beyond a fueling sheet of anger. "He's a thousand times better than the likes of you who never sacrificed anything for anything!"

My scream snaps him out of it. His lips curl into a snarl. "For a mere girl to have your hands on me!" He lurks forward and his hand closes around my throat. Air immediately cuts off from my lungs.

He pins my neck to the wall, his surprising iron grip threatening to break bones. My back aches from pressing too hard. I try to pull his fingers away but they won't budge.

     "Only a stray witch like you would ever fall for a wicked animal like him," he scowls. The image of the man now is far from the kind Mayor that Senya and everyone else believes in.

I want to slap him again but the lack of oxygen is becoming suffocating. My vision darkens, the edges blurring together. I will myself to stay conscious. I will not faint just because of this. I've been through worse.

     "What are you doing?"

Shounou instantly unhands me and backs away. I slump to the ground, coughing several times before air could flow back into my body. Life becomes clearer again. One hand to my neck, I turn to my savior.

I freeze, and everything else too freezes.

The newcomer stands at the turn where the alley leads to the previous one. For once I wish Shounou would just strangle me once again and send me unconscious.

The Crows are here.