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

Chapter 27 {Y/N}

     Cold breeze dances across my cheeks like gentle hands, making them dry. The view of the evening sears into memory as I watch the sun slowly falling back to the horizon.

A day surely passes fast, yet lasts an eternity when one wishes for it to be over. Though I'm sure which is preferable, both never seem to help me find any solution I seek.

I thought getting some fresh air would help me soothe the tension a bit between things. Now, the tension between things might have soothed a little, but certainly not the tension between people.

On the deck, I sense the crew is inspecting me like hawks, watching and counting my every breath, wary and tense. I turn to face a man a few paces away who is grudgingly cleaning the once blood-stained deck. And his movement stills the second he finds my eyes. Everyone around stops whatever they're attending to, hand finding the hilt of their weapon.

Despite my short hours of stay without any intention to cause any harm to them, their wariness around my presence stings. But it's not comparable to the feeling when someone eyes me with not hatred but with fear.

I want to tell them what they're thinking is nowhere near the truth. That it was all a layer of a lie. But what can I give to their demands of reasons when I declare my innocence? Reasons for how was I able to survive the wounds and fall...

I push the thought away and focus back on the faded sun. The twilight emits a peaceful image to the tense atmosphere. Though not long after the sky dims, I hear heavy, echoing footsteps stomp onto the deck and direct to me.

It doesn't take long for me to realize who is now behind, lighting fire and burns my back with her look.

     "What are you doing here?" Matako barks, practically barks.

I intend to ignore her and stay silent. After a while, she begins to blurt to my back again.

     "Are you deaf?"

I release an audible sigh and at the corner of my eyes, the crew is watching between us, stilled. I suppress another irritated sigh at the fleeting peacefulness I was able to have, and crane my neck to her.

     "Why don't you learn to at least address people when speaking with them?" I say with an open annoyance.

Her sour look recovers to a smug. "Oh, I'm sorry. Let me rephrase; What are you doing, bitch?"

I manage what I think is a slight smile though it feels more like a grimace. And I will my tone to be neutral. "I see you're improving."

     "Tsk. So? What are you here for, again?"

A short laugh gets loose from me at her ludicrous, distasteful tone. "What am I here for? Unlike you, I seek a sense of peacefulness. And if that doesn't answer your question, then let me recommend you to ask your captain as to why was I captured here instead." I mentally flinch but remain finely masked.

I ignore the crew expression, not to mention the loose profanities that emerge from their mouth, lingering in the air. Matako makes a face of defiance of defeat and changes the subject.

     "Why are you still alive anyway?" she asks. I can't distinguish if annoyance or disappointment is placed behind the question.

     "Are you so disappointed that I am?" I say, feigning a smile.

     "I- We saw you on that day, still and cold. Even the doctor said you were beyond saved."

I frown at the reminder. "And why do you think that led me to that condition in the firs-"