Chapter nine,

Night of the performance, part three of the trilogy

''Your subordinate? Here?'' Otae asked, pretending to not know what Kondo was talking about. The manager gave Otae a curious look too, he had told her to hire staff, but as far as he knew, there were no female Shinsengumi. ''You requested for Sougo to work here, until his debt was paid off. Silly Otae, you've been so busy, that you must have forgotten already. Work here must be swamped.'' Kondo said.

''Uh, yeah, exactly. Since the new building, business has been booming. Actually, he might be outside I think, to help Soko-chan. Since they work here, he is been like her bodyguard.'' Otae said. ''Oh, then the crowd will be quite managable. Soko and Sougo sound like a good team.''

And suddenly, a light went off by the manager, as he realised that the silver-haired man was the one who was like a bodyguard to Soko-chan. If he was Sougo, then the fanboys stood no chance! The mess out there was going to look like a bloody massacre. And Otae would find a way to pin this all on him. ''They are some team, alright...'' he said, sweating. ''Why don't I show you around, while we wait for them to handle the group.'' Otae offered.

The fanboys were going berserk, as they started destroying property and surrounded Okita and Gintoki rapidly. ''Whose brilliant idea was this?'' Gintoki asked. ''The source of evil itself came up with it.'' Okita replied. ''Satan?'' Gintoki asked, frowning, wondering if a pact with him would help them out of this.

''No, even he would be scared of Otae.'' Okita said, warding off a fanboy that made an attack. ''OTSU!'' the fanboys screamed, as they rattled the doors of the Jaden palace. It made a good zombie noise for that high school manga Gintoki recently started reading about. But taking care of these just like the high schoolers did with the zombies wouldn't really work out in their favor.

Okita wacked another fanboy, that looked an awful lot like Hijikata, in the head. ''We can't fight them all forever, and we can't allow them to get in. This place was rebuilt just last week!'' Okita said. ''So, what do you propose we do?'' Gintoki asked, as he looked at the gigantic group. ''Call in Kagura and the mutt of her? Let them bulldozer these guys?'' he added. Okita was unsure what to do either.

Shinpachi had a pretty nice job walking around with Otsu, and he should be happy to be with a girl for hours, but it being a pretend Otsu just didn't sit right. The Fans were still making an enormous racket outside, but Shinpachi knew they were just anxious to see Otsu perform.

''Shinpachi-kun, I was wondering, could you do me a favor?'' Otsu asked. ''Depends.'' he said. ''I wanted to go and get a bit of fresh air. But I am not sure that it is safe outside yet. I mean, my fans can be a bit persistent.'' 'They are not your fans! And Otsu would never dare call them that.' Shinpachi thought, but shrugged. ''Then go and have a look.'' he told her. ''You handled them before, surely you can handle them again.''

''Will you please go with me?'' she asked, pleading. Shinpachi blushed, she looked really cute, was he really going to say no to a girl, that was kinda cute, just because she pretended to be Otsu. Something she was told to be done. ''Sure thing.'' he told her, and her happy face was actually a nice reward.

When they got outside however, they saw Gintoki and Okita pressed against the wall, as the number of fanboys continued to grow. Shinpachi's jaw dropped as one by the other attacked them, and the group of knocked out fellows grew into a bigger pile, to the point it would look like the beginning of a small mountain. He knew from experience that the sadistic duo were not known for wielding the sword kindly.

As he spotted Hijikata, being swatted by Gintoki this time, before receiving an extra kick to the face, he realised they were meaning business. The numbers of the Otsu fanclub would significantly drop after this! ''STOP!'' he shouted, gaining everyone's attention. ''Shinpachi!'' Gintoki greeted him, as every fanboy dropped to the ground and kneeled, ''President!'' they said. Okita seem to smirk, before giving Shinpachi a knowing look.

''President?'' Otsu asked confused, and there was a brief moment of silence. Then, one of the bigger fanboys got up. ''Another fake!'' he shouted and this was the turning point where the real chaos began. But as the bigger guy made his way to Otsu and pulled her hair, the hair wouldn't come off.

That meant three things, first off, Gintoki's foot that was was still using Hijikata's face as a doormat stopped for a second. Next, Shinpachi fainted in shock as he realised he had been walking around with the real Otsu and behaved like a real jerk. And finally, Otsu, who was the only woman around, and a secret member of the Shinsengumi to boot, who had just been royally pissed off by being called a fake by one of her loyal fans, snapped. She dropkicked the guy to the point that he tumbled over, then growled at the horde of stunned fanboys, before letting her true inner self come out, charging the group singlehandly until no member was left standing upright.

''Neh, Danna, we should have used a bulldozer, I think it would have been safer for their well-being and pride.'' Okita said, as she raged around. ''Just shut up and head back inside. We will tell Otae that the situation is handled.'' Gintoki said, as he moptioned for Okita to give him a hand dragging Hijikata as he feared he might not survive the ordeal with this lady. "Sorry, sprained my back just now." Okita said as he gave Hijikata a surreptious kick.

When Otsu was nearly finished, Shinpachi slowly regained consiousness. ''What... what happened?'' he dared ask, slowly puzzling the pieces together. ''*You* are the president of this lot?!'' an out of breath Otsu asked. ''Uh... yes..?'' Shinpachi said, wincing, fearing the worst. ''Can you maybe try and tone them down a bit in the future. I don't actually like using violence that much.''

Shinpachi could argue about the state his fellow fans were in, but years with Otae just taught him to agree, and to not argue. ''That being said, I've appreciated the effort you put in the last years, and the letters you wrote me. Too bad you are so distant, cause honestly, other then that you would have totally been my type.'' she said, before cheerfully going inside.

''That was insanity today.'' Gintoki said, leaving Hijikata on a beanbag, and wandering off in an effort to find Otae. Okita soon followed, after casually draping a heavy pillow over Hijikata's face.''Yeah, it was. So what made you come around here today?'' Okita asked, thankful Gintoki had been there to help him out. ''I was going to visit a friend of mine.'' Gintoki said. 'Soko.' Okita instantly realised. ''Is she really that precious to you, that you visit her on a daily basis. Some might call you a stalker.'' Okita said.

''I am nothing like Kondo.'' Gintoki said, and Okita had to give him a point there. ''But if you must know, then yes. Soko for me is really important. She reminds me of someone I care for. Someone I care for a lot, and I...'' ''Yes?'' Okita asked, wondering if Gintoki was about to ask her out. He might not even be that opposed if that made Gintoki happy.

''I know her true identity, and I don't care. But, if Soko and me could be a thing, that would be great.'' Gintoki said. Okita's heart raced. ''True identity?'' he asked, he needed to know to be sure. But before Gintoki could reply, they were interrupted as Kondo shouted, ''Sougo!'' the sudden hug from his commander took him by surprise.

''Kondo-san.'' he said, being really happy seeing the commander again. Of course, he was followed by Otae. ''Is everything handled outside?'' she asked, and Gintoki nodded. ''Oh, that is fantastic news!'' the manager looked really happy, before heading off to check the podium Otsu would perform on tonight. ''Sougo, why do you look so red? Are you coming down with a fever?'' Kondo asked.

''No, just a bit tired. It was quite a long day.'' Okita lied, and Gintoki nodded along. ''Hard work will make quick payment. I have no doubt you will soon rejoin the force again. Tonight, we must feast though. There will be a fun evening here, why not take the night off, and I will request Hijikata to join too. You have earned it. Otae, and Gintoki, you should stay too!'' Kondo stated.

''I need to work.'' Otae said, before adding, ''But Sougo can take the night off. He has done enough for today. I will ensure he will receive payment as if working the evening, though.'' Otae promised, offering Okita a wink. ''Can you at least be our host?'' Kondo asked, and Otae nodded, giving a small smile to Kondo. She even looked forward a bit to spending time with her favourite gorilla. ''Then that is settled. We stay here for an evening of fun and games, and we will invite Shinpachi too!'' Kondo decided.