I'm really sorry for not updating! Actually, I was planning on abandoning this fic since it already lost a lot of readers... and I was too busy with my Gruvia fic, but your reviews inspired me to continue this piece. Thank you so much for the support, everyone. I love you!

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He glared.

They stared.

He sighed.

They continued to stare.

Something inside him snap, and the next thing he knew…

"YOU GOT A PROBLEM?" He was yelling his lungs out at the rest of the Shinsengumi.

Ever since he came back with the woman, everyone inside the headquarters had been staring at him, eyeing him as though he was some kind of amanto wandering in a different world. It raised his frustration to its highest level, especially after Kondo asked him when "it" happened. As if he had done that!

"Yamazaki," he called, "be Mikoto-san's guide to the guest room."

Soon, all subordinates left the area, followed by a fuming Hijikata who obviously was heading to his room.

While the awkward situation went on, Sougo warily watched their guest leave. He could literally hear all the warning bells inside his head turn on, screaming at him that the girl only had bad intentions.

"Oi, stupid sadist." Of course, nobody can have a worse intention than this brainless officer talking to him. "What do you want?" He didn't even bother to look at her.

Here it comes!

She gave him a direct punch on the stomach, and luckily, he was prepared. He steadied himself like a sturdy rock and met her assault with great confidence. To everyone's surprise, something crashed against the wall. Looking closely, they spotted brown locks. It was strange how they didn't have to see the entire body just to know it was their captain. His men rushed to his aid as soon as they saw a glimpse of cinnamon brown.

"Okita-sama!"

On second thought, I should have just dodged.

"What was that for?" He coughed while checking his body if he still had any stomach.

"That's for eating my strawberry milk!"

Umm… that's kind of a simple problem, right?

"China, I did not eat your strawberry milk. I drank it." His sarcasm seemed to have angered the female more, resulting to her sending him more punches along with several kicks. It somehow amused the entire audience since it was unusual to see the feared captain latching at the ceiling with an alien girl trying to climb up the wall. Witnessing this might be a once in a lifetime experience, so why not take the chance?

"Stupid sadist!" She went under the spot he was at and growled at him in annoyance. "If I can't go up," she said as she readied herself for her big attack. "Then you're going down with me!" She gave a high jump and clutched at her target's jacket, effectively taking him off the ceiling.

They fell down on the floor with a loud thud, bodies tangled in a way a kid should not see. Sougo's face was buried into her chest, arms cradling her slim waist, and legs between her thighs. It didn't help that she wore the most… exotic expression they had ever seen on the Yato's face.

"Geez… China, you didn't have to do–"

"Hey, has anyone of you– MOTHER OF ALL NATIONS!"

Just their luck, Gintoki's perfect timing had to be used on them. What a day.

He made a mad dash towards their side, throwing Okita as far away as he could, ending up smashing against the newcomer's face… who happened to be Hijikata.

"What is this ruckus all abou– oof!"

"Keep your son's d*** to himself! Stop touching Kagura-chan!" He wailed, earning him a frown from the offended vice commander. He stared down at the knocked out captain on his feet, not fully comprehending the situation.

"What did he do now?" He picked him up, slinging the younger male's arm around his neck. Gin simply answered him with another wail before pointing an accusing finger at him.

"I found him hovering over my daughter; his face was on her bosom!"

He blinked in surprise as he glanced at the officer slung on him for support. He knew Sougo for a very long time, so it was safe to conclude that he did something reckless which ended up to their… promising position.

His sharp, calculating eyes bore into Gin's, watching him carry Kagura bridal style nonchalantly like he did it on a daily basis. Noticing this, the latter stared back with apathy.

"You need something?"

Their silence continued, and it was until the person being questioned decided to be frank with his words.

"So," Hijikata started, "she's a 'daughter' to you now?"

He saw him flinch the slightest bit.

As the two engaged in their glaring competition, little did they know that the unconscious was already eavesdropping on their conversation, wearing a stern look on his face as he hung his head low for his act.

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Where am I?

"Oi, are you awake?"

W-What? Who are you?

"Have you come to?"

Oh, yeah… I bumped my head.

Blinking twice, she opened her eyes and met crimson red.

"What are you doing here, sadist? Where's Gin-chan?" She forced herself to sit up, leaning on the soft pillows supporting her back. He did not respond, but instead, he gripped her wrist, making the carrot head frown from displeasure.

"What's with you," she asked him again, although this time, annoyance was evident in her voice.

She could see him scrutinizing her form, and if she wasn't that innocent concerning adult stuff, she might have thought he was undressing her in his imagination.

They remained in the same position in a few more seconds before Sougo finally decided to break the ice.

"Danna and Hijibaka aren't here, so it's just you and your 'best friend' in this room."

A thin eyebrow rose in confusion.

"I don't get what you are talking about."

He growled at her perplexed appearance. Obviously, she would neither understand nor predict what the topic was, since even he– himself– had no idea why he'll be asking such things. It was so out of the blue.

"I want you to tell me the truth."

"What truth? You're really confusing me, sadist, just spill it."

Without breaking eye contact, the words rolled out of his mouth, shocking the soul out of the girl's body.

"What did you do to Danna and Hijikata to make them adore you so much? Are you planning on something grave? Because if you do, I'll make sure to haunt you down until you're nothing but a corpse."

SLAP!

It took him a moment to realize the cause of the stinging pain on his cheek. He turned his head to look at her blankly, and surprisingly, she was giving him the same expression.

"Look," she said in her usual tone, "I don't give a damn about the things you'll do. I may be a Shinsengumi officer now, but that doesn't change the fact that I've killed thousands of innocent people." Her cold orbs bore into his own as she continued. "I understand your act of suspicions, but don't be stupid to think that I'll plan on hurting my friends. I am a killer, but I was raised to live with honor. I don't betray friends… especially family."

He had no idea how his face was like after her little speech, but he was sure as heck that her words shot him through the heart. Her voice was firm, showing the truthfulness in her words, and it was enough evidence for him to believe her.

The grip on her wrist loosened; hands heading back to his pocket as he stood up and walked away.

"Where are you going?" She asked, blinking in astonishment. She cannot help it. He was acting like her palm never landed a hit on his cheek.

He stopped, not bothering to avert his sight from the door. "To my sister's quarters. I don't think I can handle sniffing more of this junk inside your room." He kicked the empty box of sukonbu away from his foot.

When he was standing by the door, he suddenly stopped moving, gaining the curiosity of the orange-haired amanto.

He glanced back at her as though contemplating on his words.

When he left the room, she didn't fail to read his mouth before the door fully shut close.

Keep your words.

Was that a threat?

Ugh, that idiot! Hands clutched on orange locks, pulling them down in extreme frustration. "If I can kill him now…"

While Kagura muttered to herself inside her room, Sougo stood in front of her door with a small smile gracing his lips.

"Raised to live with honor," he whispered to himself as he gazed at the ceiling.

A criminal saying that to a policeman?

He smirked at the thought and let out a chuckle.

"How ironic."

Without her knowing, she had gained the trust of the famous stoic captain of the Shinsengumi.

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