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

Chapter 14 {Shizuka Senya}

      I close the door as Momo hurriedly runs up to the house. I urge him back out and shut the door. Dusting my hands, I prepare to go wash myself.

Just when I open the bathroom door, I hear shuffling footsteps outside followed by a hushed call.

     "Excuse me, is someone home?" says an familiar voice. Though I can't exactly pinpoint whose.

Wondering who it is, I proceed to the front door and open it. My eyes go wide at who I'm seeing outside.

     "Lord Shounou!" I exclaim. He smiles attractively in turn. "What brings you here in this hour?"

     "Oh, just something," he says. "But may I first enter? Others might get curious if they see me." He glances about.

     "O-Of course." I quickly make way for him to enter.

As the mayor settles down, I suggest, "Would you like some tea?"

He raises a hand and says, "It's fine. I'll be quick."

     "Oh, I see," I reply, still awkwardly standing.

     "Please sit." He gestures to the place before him. "I have some matters to discuss with you."

I rigidly sit down, feeling uncomfortable since this is the first time that I've been this near to him. "What is it that you wish to discuss?" I ask politely.

He hesitates for a moment before speaking. "It's...regarding Y/N." I tense, but stay quiet. "I haven't seen her coming to work lately. Has something happened?"

I wet my lips before carefully answer. "Yes, it appears that she has to return back to Edo for some...urgent conditions." I keep my face straight regardless of the tightness of the mention of Y/N. Of what really happened.

     "And if I may ask of that urgent condition?"

I fake an apologetic look before replying. "I'm afraid I don't know that far. She simply told me that she had to immediately return."

     "How long has she been gone?" he persists.

     "Perhaps two weeks or so." At least this is not a lie.

Ever since the day I lost her in the stall market and came back to find...what Momo showed me, exactly two weeks had passed. But the sight of the pool of blood on the ground is still raw as if it was yesterday.

     "I see..." The lord trails, disappointment clouds his tone.

I suppress the things I know what he did to Y/N and try to be as natural as possible. But some words just can't seem to be stopped.

     "You seemed to care very much for her," I absently say.

His attention snaps to me. "Oh, yes. She had done a great deal of things to help me."

     "I am very glad to hear." I force a smile on my face. The thing that's on my mind everytime I see him now is the picture of my friend slumped against the door, shaking, weeping. "Forgive my rudeness, my lord, but how do you know that she lived here?" It disturbs me that he even knows where Y/N used to be.

The mayor offers slight smile. "She told me that she lived with her friend at the back of the village. Through some assistance, I manage to find you."

Whose assistance? I keep from questioning the lord further. "She must've really done a commendable work to have you personally come here and ask of her absence," I pleasantly say, holding his gaze.

     "Indeed, she was." I notice his expression darkens.

Uncomfortable with the silence, I ask, "Was that what you come to seek for, my lord?" I almost sound disdainful. He won't earn any of the things once I thought of him.

He narrows his bows at my tone but seems to dismiss it. "There's another reason," he utters.

My lips a straight line as I wait for him to speak. Even smiling is tiring. But instead, he takes something out of his sleeve. From the formal envelope, it looks like a letter, but the thickness implies otherwise.

     "This is her salary so far," the lord says. "Since she's not here anymore, I thought I'd give it to you." He hands the envelope to me.

     "I can't-"

     "Before you refuse, I'm told that Y/N is working for me to support you. Is that true?"

     "Yes," I say. 

     "So I'm sure she'd be glad with what I'm doing." His smile now almost looks sincere, fully reaching his warm eyes. My heart absently flutters.

I glance at his hand, hanging mid-air waiting for me to accept. I automatically remember the way Y/N was so eager to get a job. How she so much wanted to help me. My chest tightens at the realization that she's now gone. Injured and gone.

I swallow a lump and slowly take the envelope from him.

     "Now that my business is done, I suppose I'll leave for today," the mayor says as he stands up. I follow his movement and proceed to open the door for him.

     "Thank you for everything, my lord. Truly," I mutter when he steps out. The words tight.

He waves a hand and says, "No, I should thank you for introducing me to such a remarkable employee." The tone betrays his cheerful face, sounding dreary. A pained expression sweeps across his neutral pose. And I see just a simple man missing a girl that's out of his reach.

     "Well then." He turns and walks away into the moonlit night.

I close the door silently, unable to erase the image of his face. And for some reason, his look reminds me so much of Y/N. She always had that same look whenever she spoke about that man. Wistful and sad.

Although her salary could support me for a long time, I can't find anything in me to rejoice. And I'm sure the lord gave me more than he should.

But he gave it because it was Y/N's, while I'm the one who's holding it right now. I don't deserve this, not through all of the hard work she's done. And Y/N... She deserves better.

I leave the thick envelope on the floor and head to the bathroom, bearing the heavy weight of reality.