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

Chapter 29 {Kijima Matako}

     I pour the tea into the white-blue designed china, the aroma drifting in the air. I especially asked the chef to order it the other day so that I can always use these to serve Shinsuke-sama every time he asks for tea. I hope he'd like it.

I carefully set the kettle down, and place the two cups onto a wooden tray. Though he hasn't particularly ask for it, I'm sure he'll accept if I bring them to him. He must be in his room at this hour, usually practicing the shamisen with Bansai-senpai.

I gently lift the tray, not wanting the tea to spill, but then that girl enters the kitchen. I almost drop the tray as I absently scorn at her.

She's holding also a tray but with empty dishes and hands it to one of the guys in the kitchen. He reluctantly takes it, watching a smile plastering on her annoying face.

     "Who gives you the permission to freely roam our ship?" I accost when she walks close to the table I'm currently at.

She turns to me, as if first seeing me. "My own free legs," she boredly replies.

I put down the tray and glare at her, too distracted to care for the spilled tea. "Think you can do whatever and whenever you want? Too bad but you won't be pampered by anyone anytime now."

     "I never once thought I ever was."

     "A sharp tongue, haven't we? Especially with enemies around your neck."

     "That feeling is, unfortunately, unreciprocated."

I want to slit her smooth throat with a shard at the neutral look she maintains, and leave a permanent scar there. "Is that so? Then you're just stupid."

A twitch of her brows shows my insult has some effects, but she masks her emotion quickly. Her eyes travel from me to the two cups on the table then to the kettle beside them. "Are you the one who ordered those?"

I flicker a look down to the china set before returning back to her. "So what?"

A slight smile takes up her face. "They're lovely," she gently says, as if really marveled by them. "No wonder you're so observational, Matako. You have some very refined eyes."

Her sudden remark takes me back. And come to think of it, this is also the first time she speaks my name.

     "But please make sure that such refinement doesn't lead to the overlook of things," she says, her expression turns what looks like a suppressed grimace,"such as some undesired substances that might not dissolve in such wonderful aroma." My frown drops at her understatement.

Failing to keep my eyes from showing an understanding, her smile deepens as she says, "Well then, I hope he would like what you specifically made for him."

     "Hold it," I say when she walks pass the table to the door. I get to where she is and lower my voice. "Are you planning to tell him that?"

She watches me, vagued. "I don't know which that you're speaking of."

A muscle twitches in my hand at her plain pretense. Then I choose to play along. "Of course not. Since you're just a mere tool at Shinsuke-sama's disposal, of course you don't. No wait." I lean closer to her ear. "Just a freak."

The mildness in her eyes lessens a bit and a frown is slowly taking over her face. "What?"

     "Was I wrong?" I say, putting a hand on my hip. "What else should I call you if any normal person would die from that fall?" Several of the guys turns to our direction and I smirk at her, satisfied.

     "What makes you think that I survived? What if the one you're talking to right now is but a loose, vengeful spirit of the girl you killed?" I think I hear something being suppressed behind her voice. Like a fear of something being exposed. Reminded.

     "If so, I'd see wounds I inflicted on her. But you?" I scan her body from head to toe and raise my volume. "Where are your wounds? This might explain why you survive the fall, right? Because your wounds were just gone!"

Her eyes widen a fraction and face paled as everyone fixes their attention to her. I tower her with my dominant height. "Did you hear what I said? Like nothing happened, your wounds just disap-"

Her palms flies up to clench my mouth with an shocking inhuman strength. I shudder at the coldness of it. Everyone around us freezes as they take in the situation. The chef watches us with both fear and curiosity.

     "Shut your mouth," she hisses.

I fight away from her hand but her grip gets stronger enough to break my cheekbones. And I drop my hands back as I stare at her, shocked.

She pulls me closer then hisses lowly. "You speak of that in public again and I'll make sure that's the last time you speak."

My heart pounds suddenly at the danger from her threat. Somehow, she sounds serious about it. Beyond, I see a guy clutching a kitchen knife in his hand.

Before I can motion him not to move, the girl adjusts so that I'm facing straight into her eyes. "If you have any grudges against me, then take it to my room." A shiver chills my spine at the emptiness of her eyes. I can't tell if she's really the girl from before. This, she, feels wrong.

     "Now move," she growls.

And I stumble behind her.