#Kiheitai

[herseyboktan]

He has only two mood

Smiling like an asshole and psychopath killer

#gintama #gintama takasugi #takasugi shinsuke #takasugi #kiheitai

[suchine-toki]

A way to deal with your chaotic children

#Gintama #Sakata Gintoki #Takasugi Shinsuke #Katsura Kotarou #Hijikata Toushirou #Okita Sougo #Kondo Isao #Yoshida Shouyou #Kagura #Shimura Shinpachi #Kamui #Shouka Sonjuku #Yorozuya #Shinsengumi #Kiheitai #Dadtoki #Ginbaby #I can draw #Random #Fanart #my post #I wanted to get back to drawing but starting simple #since I haven't drawn in a long time #and I'm still trying to figure out the best way to do it since I don't have a tablet #I make a traditional drawing scan it and then color it digitally #it's a pain in the ass lol

[incorrect-kihentai]

Matako: What is love? Takechi: An emotional minefield. Takasugi: A neurochemical reaction. Bansai: Baby don't hurt me.

#gintama #incorrect gintama quotes #incorrect kiheitai #kiheitai #incorrect gintama #kijima matako #kawakami bansai #takechi henpeita #takasugi shinsuke

[dont-touch-the-flower-child]

Nobume & Matako as foils

This was going to be part of a longer analysis, but in the end I decided to make a short separate post for it that I could refer to later.

I'm going to list a few similarities Nobume and Matako have, and within these similarities we could compare the differences and their implications.

Both girls are orphaned at a young age and forced to become a killer.

Nobume was orphaned by Naraku (which serves the Bakufu) and then trained to become an assassin. Her own will was not accounted for in the process; she did not have a say.

Matako lost her parents because of the Bakufu (her father executed for fighting in the joui war, her mother persecuted to death by association) and she wanted to avenge them with the pistols her father left behind. Though she was similarly a victim, Matako actively chose the path of rebellion for herself.

Both met their father figure, who end up becoming their commander, in a moment of rebellion. (self-explanatory)

Isaburo and Takasugi also happen to be working towards the same objective (toppling the Bakufu, exposing the Tendoshu)

They are both adored by their respective father figures, and the attachment is strong.

Though both Isaburo and Takasugi appear to have trouble navigating their relationship with their daughter. (Isaburo's pretty obvious; I plan on elaborating on Takasugi's case later)

They are both similar in temperament with their respective father figures.

Isaburo and Nobume are stoic and detached; Takasugi and Matako are hot-tempered and reckless.

(Also, within the revived Kiheitai, Matako is the only member whose initial motive is the same as Takasugi's: revenge. This could imply great similarities in their characters.)

Now, onto the greatest difference between Nobume and Matako: their personalities.

Nobume spent her entire life following orders. First under Naraku, and then under Isaburo. Isaburo was the one who wanted to support Takasugi's cause, and Nobume felt she "had to go along". Isaburo is plotting rebellion under the guise of following orders; as the Mimawarigumi followed his orders, they all became his pawn.

Matako meanwhile, belongs in the Kiheitai, which is pretty much rebellion and resistence incarnated. (I'd like to remind people that, despite their great loyalty to Takasugi, every major member of the Kiheitai has acted independently of Takasugi's will at some point—even against it sometimes.) I also feel like pointing out how Matako's an independent thinker as she is the only one to question the use of the Benizakura sword as it's too dangerous, and the only one to question if the Kiheitai's alliance with Harusame is a good idea. She even correctly deduced that Takasugi was in danger in that moment, something not even Bansai caught on.

(See, this is why I dislike portrayals of Matako as a simple-minded fangirl who blindly follows Takasugi around. I also think she deserves more serious moments where she acts and gets recognized as the competent person she is.)

Nobume, due to her parallel with Oboro (which deserves its own post), very likely got the same detached, emotionless personality from being brought up in Naraku. An authoritarian organization with little warmth and affection to speak of.

Matako, meanwhile, expresses a much wider range of emotions. She cries freely, plays the exasperated tsukkomi/straight man, and is a vibrant, lively girl. I can only imagine that if she's able to turn out like this, then the Kiheitai must be very different from Naraku in all asepcts.

For some reason, this post turns out to be longer than I intended. I'd like to share some speculations of how Matako was brought up by the Kiheitai, and how I think Takasugi feels about her. So, more posts incoming.

#gintama #gintama meta #kijima matako #imai nobume #takasugi shinsuke #sasaki isaburo #kiheitai

[sankatsuka]

Bansai Kawakami and Kiheitai Discussion - The Humanity that Drives Kiheitai

After watching Gintama till the end, my favourite faction in Gintama is undoubtedly Kiheitai. The Liberation Army arc was my most favourite arc in the entire series - it had a really interesting commentary on characters impacted by the loss of their home and loved ones.

What stood out to me the most was Bansai's gradual realizations as he lived nihilistically down Takasugi's path of destruction. How Bansai has actually always carried the spirit of a Samurai who wanted to protect his country - his home. So he is the one able to open Takasugi's eyes to the present, to the fact that Kiheitai had become akin to a home to all of them who are just nobodies who have lost everything.

Warnings: I bring on some talking points from my previous discussion about Takasugi's character. My interpretation of Takasugi's character is heavy on Takagin. (read here)

The end of the Shinsengumi Crisis arc shows how Bansai is the most open about learning about other beliefs outside Takasugi's. This distinguishes him from the other members of Kiheitai we've seen so far, who seem to blindly be following him as they've lost all purpose. This hints that Bansai hasn't lost his purpose, and it's related to protecting people, with how much present-day Edo drew him in.

We are given confirmation during Kiheitai's formation that Bansai has always been living with that desire to protect the people of his country. He ends up joining Takasugi because there was no other way forward, but seeing Takasugi's charisma probably reinforced his belief that he would be able to protect this country. This is why Bansai isn't blindly devoted to Takasugi, and is able to see with his eyes that present-day Edo never needed to be protected. That it Kiheitai themselves who couldn't face the present.

He acknowledges that Kiheitai were the blind ones, blind to the people and themselves. This makes what Kiheitai truly is clearer to him: they were just a bunch of people who lost everything and wanted someone strong to exact their vengeance while carrying the weight of their anger. And Takasugi is a lost hero who strayed from his path away from the Joui 4 because he was too weak to face the present like them (I do think that Takasugi is most burdened by his guilt of choosing Gintoki over their teacher they fought for and cherished, like Enshou leaving his brother to die to be with his now-wife. But I don't think Bansai knew about this and thought Takasugi couldn't get over his anger of the lives lost only for his teacher to only die in vain. Like how nobody knows what Enshou had done to his brother to the very bitter end too...)

Having taken such lessons from present-day Edo and knowing what Kiheitai really is, Bansai's path became clearer to him. He has to be the comrade who spurs Takasugi to the right path, to rise and become the hero he really is, the one who moves forward because of the present living and not the dead from the past.

Bansai was no longer fighting to protect Kiheitai's ambitions of overthrowing the government, he would die fighting protecting the spirit of Kiheitai. Which he does by telling Takasugi he has to keep going because Kiheitai is always chasing him, not for their goal of overthrowing the country.

It's thanks to this and Kiheitai demonstrating Bansai's final words that Takasugi wakes up. He isn't a hero fighting to protect the country, he was just an ordinary person who has to live for his present - the Kiheitai who has always been chasing after him, not to achieve their ambitions that just proved pointless at the end.

The reason Bansai is the one capable of seeing Kiheitai for what it really is is probably because of what Takasugi saw in him when they met. Takasugi only chose to recruit Bansai at the start, whereas he showed disappointment in Henpeita's half-heartedness and straight up turned Matako away. Both of the latter two had given up on fully living as themselves, and Takasugi encouraged them to find their proper answers instead of relying on him and didn't deem them as strong enough to follow down his road with such fragile resolve--But Bansai didn't give up.

Bansai was still chasing after his desire to protect the country and it's people until the very end. He didn't have the eyes of someone who gave up and wanted to end things in the best way possible like Henpeita. Bansai was doing everything he can to protect as many as he could (Matako and the imprisoned Joui rebels, probably even placing a bet that Takasugi could bring about a miracle in the prison).

That's probably why Bansai didn't close his eyes entirely to the present-day Edo and the ideals they all live by. He's still chasing after the country he wants to protect, and there was no absolutely certainty Takasugi's methods were the answer. In the end, he finds his answer in the heroes that are powered not by the dead, but by the people who follow them (Joui 4). And he is capable of seeing that heroic spirit that should be in Takasugi, and how his sights should be on the Kiheitai that is chasing after him, and not the dead of the past.

For such a strong-headed guy who wanted to protect his country so strongly, Takasugi couldn't let Bansai's life go to waste to a country that forsake his efforts. Not when Takasugi knows the pain of trampling over corpses, and the country they were willing to put down their lives for wouldn't even carry that burden alongside them. Even if Takasugi himself didn't know where he was going, he was willing to put his trust in a miracle somewhere along the way - as long as he could protect these people.

For these people who were willing to put their lives down in the name of justice in a country that didn't even care about them, Takasugi refused to let them lose their precious lives that way. He spares Henpeita because of this, but also decides against recruiting him because he wouldn't drag down someone who still had a chance at living a normal life. Bansai was already at the stage of idiocy where he couldn't be saved anymore, so instead of leaving him to die for that meaningless cause, Takasugi recruits him. Because he was planning to fight till the very end for a miracle, and that was a better cause than the country for people who were willing to throw their lives away. Even if it was just blind confidence.

And because of this, Henpeita reaches out to Takasugi again, that the miracle he wants to bet on to keep living was Takasugi himself, instead of a normal life. Matako also proves that the same miracle she would bet her life on at a young age was Takasugi by joining them on the battlefield.

This was the Kiheitai Takasugi intended - a place that only had idiots and nobodies who would die for their justice, and he wouldn't let their deaths be wasted on the country that wouldn't honour their spirit.

(Because Takasugi detests himself for having forsaken his comrades' deaths, because he would have forsaken their wishes to save Shouyou for his own wish of being with Gintoki. So he takes it up on himself to make amends even as a dead person walking. I'm sorry I have to include so much Takagin, I have to emphasize why Takasugi cares so much about honouring people's lives.)

For that Takasugi, Bansai tells him that Kiheitai are always right behind him. Even if he's lost everything, as long as those eyes have something they are headed towards, Kiheitai will follow suit. Because they chose to follow Takasugi, and at some point found a home in each other. So they would fight to protect that home, instead of the country that they knew they've already lost their place in but still foolishly have the heart to want to protect.

So their deaths would never be wasted. Of course, he's free to make amends by sacrificing himself, but that's only at the very end after he's achieved whatever he was seeking.

But ultimately, it would've been better if they could all live normally in this home they found. As Bansai fights to the very end, he remembers that he and Henpeita resolved to die for the sake of a hero who could change the country. But now he's fighting for the sake of going back to the peaceful times where they can finally start facing each Takasugi for who he really is: their friend.

Because Bansai knows now, what spurred them on wasn't their ambitions to make a miracle to happen - it was the place they all found in Kiheitai.

(Also, I love how Bansai and Shinpachi have such strong parallels. Their shared connection with Otsu, Gintoki and Takasugi saving the other, Bansai protecting Shinpachi. It feels like the two of them share a strong love for the home that raised them, and Shinpachi may have ended up like Bansai had he been older and lost everything.

I wish I could've seen them spending more time together, Shinpachi may have been able to wake Bansai up to face the present before it was too late as it is in canon...)

#gintama #bansai kawakami #kawakami bansai #kiheitai #shinsuke takasugi #takasugi shinsuke #takagin

[hydrangeawrites]

"Everyone's carrying something that matters. You just don't realize when you're carrying it. It's only after it slips out of your hand that you realize how heavy it was in the first place. So many times I thought that I'd never carry a load like that ever again. And yet, before I realized it, I was carrying it again. I'd feel so much better if I just got rid of it. But I just can't bring myself to do it."

#he didn't have to try that hard to recruit them #but he also couldn't bring himself to get rid of them #he said he didn't want or need anything to protect #but he always kept them out of harm's way #he missed having a family #and they became his new one #gintama #takasugi shinsuke #kawakami bansai #kijima matako #takechi henpeita #kiheitai

[leverythingbluel]

This is so fucking sad to me and Silver Soul arc clearly showed us that this is bullshit and he does have a found family of his own.

#I'm holding on to this goddamn episode 17 and I really am not letting go #I took so many screenshots #Gintama #takasugi shinsuke #kiheitai

[bossladytae]

“You can rest in Hell...you crew members of this broken-down ship.”

#gintama #gintamaedit #takasugi shinsuke #shinsuke takasugi #takasugi #takasugi gif #used manga wording for the caption #gintama gifs #kiheitai

[unstable-viper]

Happy birthday to the Kiheitai leader, my favorite anime character, Takasugi Shinsuke!🎉❤

#gintama #takasugi shinsuke #kiheitai #hb to the loml #i love him so much

[sugisyakult]

i was just thinking and this is an unpopular opinion maybe, but i don’t ship takasugi with matako at all! it just feels so forced and it’s so clearly one sided on matako’s part. there is absolutely no evidence that sugi returns any sort of romantic feelings towards her and he doesn’t even interact with her at all. i think he very much cares about her, but in a platonic way, more as a friend/family. i think matako’s love for him could also just be interpreted as admiration and not romantic. this in no way means that i don’t like matako bc i do really love her and she is very underrated!! i just don’t ship them and don’t see anything to back the ship up. yes, they had matching jackets but that doesn’t really mean anything? idk i just get more of a family vibe with them.

(pls don’t come at me for this, just expressing my opinion. y’all are more than welcome to express your opinions also!)

#literally just my personal opinion #they’re family your honor #gintama #gintama ships #kiheitai #shinsuke #takasugi #takasugi shinsuke #shinsuke takasugi #gintama matako #matako #kijima matako

[lilac-5ky]

random thought of the day

We've all wondered what Yorozuya would be like if Gintoki switched places with Takasugi. Now, I raise you this: Imagine if Kagura and Shinpachi replaced Matako and Bansai in the Kiheitai, and vice versa for the Yorozuya.

Imagine Kagura utilizing her Yato nature and being an absolute unit, but Takasugi can't get her to do shit unless he feeds her an enormous amount of food.

Imagine Shinpachi being all-calm and the voice of reason, earning Takasugi's favor, only to instantly lose it the minute he walks into his room full of Otsu merch.

Honorable mention: Imagine Takasugi acquiring Sadaharu. Imagine how chaotic it'd be. Imagine him taking Sadaharu to space walks with Amanto envoys, just because Kagura conveniently forgot she promised to take care of him.

Imagine Bansai NEVER understanding Gin's jokes and pop culture references. Him being so eager to partake in his shenanigans and finding him magnificent, while not fully getting what his all about.

Imagine Matako getting Stockholm Syndrome after Benizakura and filling Gin's room with Takasugi merch while he is having a breakdown.

#imagine all the people #lmao #gintama #takasugi shinsuke #sakata gintoki #yorozuya #kiheitai #kijima matako #kawakami bansai #sadaharu #kagura yato #yato kagura #shimura shinpachi

[herseyboktan]

Joui 4

#gintama #silver soul #sakata gintoki #gintoki #gintoki sakata #katsura kotarou #zura ja nai katsura da #gintama katsura #forever yorozuya #yorozuya #katsura #zura #takasugi #takasugi shinsuke #kiheitai #sakamoto #sakamoto tatsuma #joui 4 #joui4 #joui 3

[incorrect-gintama-quotes]

Takasugi: Why did you threaten Takechi?

Matako: I told him to have a nice day!

Takasugi: You said, *consults note* 'Enjoy the next twenty-four hours.'

Matako: I'm not hearing a difference.

#matako #takasugi #takechi #bansai #kiheitai #gintama #incorrect gintama quotes

[incorrect-kihentai]

Matako: I truly believe that water can solve all your problems. Matako: Weight loss? Drink water. Takechi: Clear skin? Drink water. Takasugi: Want to get rid of someone? Drown them.

#gintama #kiheitai #kijima matako #kawakami bansai #takechi henpeita #incorrect gintama #incorrect kiheitai #incorrect gintama quotes #takasugi shinsuke

[dont-touch-the-flower-child]

What's With all the fanon Takasugi who is cranky 24/7 and terrible to his own men and overworks and bullies Bansai.

Bansai's neither a masochist nor an idiot?? Same goes for the rest of the Kiheitai. Do you think Takasugi would really have that many followers if he's actually terrible. Do you think Bansai of all people would support Takasugi if he's a terrible boss. Bansai who wouldn't hesitate to punch Nobunobu in the face for ordering seppuku for all servants who fail to quell the jouis' rebellion.

Takasugi canonically tells the Kiheitai to head back to Edo ahead of him while he goes to face Harusame's 7th Division all alone to play Kamui's bait. He orders for his men to stand back and fights Oboro all by himself. Yes Takechi probably forges some of Takasugi's notes in the Joui Reunion Arc but I'm sure those forgeries have basis in what Takasugi actually did for his crew.

Also Takasugi was literally a capable and popular leader since his Joui War days. During his bickering with Gintoki he says the Kiheitai could fight that kind of battle with one hand tied behind their backs. He's proud of his men. He led a small army, heavily outnumbered by amanto and bakufu soldiers, And there were still survivors of his army to be executed by the bakufu post-war. What makes people think Takasugi would drastically change how he leads just because he's traumatized.

Give me fanon Takasugi who's a good leader and shows it. Give me Takasugi who's indulgent and accepting of his men's quirks, who treats his men to good food on holidays, who makes his own birthday an excuse for everyone else to party. Give me Takasugi who splits responsibilities evenly with Bansai and urges him to rest and clumsily bandages his wounds post-battle and wouldn't hesitate to chew out anyone who ridicules Bansai for keeping his headphones and shades on or taking jokes literally.

Give me Takasugi who's soft, who's considerate, who's vulnerable, who doesn't just live to be an edgelord villain but is simply a hurting person. Then we might finally be going somewhere

#takasugi shinsuke #kiheitai #bantaka

[sakukaguxxi]

Yakult and Tobacco | Gintama

Word count: 3.4k

C/W’s: none really except for a tiny bit of blood

Summary: a story about what happens to Takasugi and the Kiheitai after ch. 704

a/n: This is my first time writing for Gintama, and I wanted to do something like this for a while but didn’t think I was a good enough story writer. But I really felt passionate about this topic and tried my best. I was inspired by various ideas from fandom and combined with my own random ideas. I hope this isn’t too bad. Likes and reblogs are appreciated!

______

The long search hadn’t been for nothing. It wasn’t a pipe dream, it wasn't a dead end. This couldn’t be a coincidence. After investigating the dragon holes for several months, Matako finally found him. 

She was overcome with tears of joy and relief as she held the reborn Takasugi in her arms. The local villagers who had gathered around upon getting word of a mysterious baby appearing in the dragon hole looked on in mild confusion. What does this baby mean to this woman? they must have thought. Was it really born from the dragon hole or just abandoned? Is it the divine wrath of Ryujin-sama?

Matako didn’t really care how this scene looked to anyone else at that moment. It was just so personal. Feeling like a big weight had been lifted off her shoulders finally, she decided she was ready to leave after she finished crying and wiped away her tears. Wherever home was, they could now return.

Matako turned to the crowd. “I will take this child,” she announced.

Nobody else was racing to volunteer, but there were a few murmurs among the crowd. Then one man pointed at the infant, shouting, “This could be an attack by the Dragon Vein God! You shouldn’t keep it!”

“I can handle this,” she responded firmly. “You don’t know the whole story, because this is actually my friend who I’ve been looking for, and now he’s been revived. It probably sounds crazy, but even if you don’t believe me, I have to do this.”

Now that she found Shinsuke, it was time to embark on the journey to regroup with Takechi. Some villagers were actually kind enough to help her by lending her some baby supplies and giving her directions, even if they didn’t fully understand the background. 

……

Matako met Takechi at a small house on the outskirts of Edo that the Kiheitai had used as a hideout. It would make a decent place for someone who wanted some privacy away from the city. There was a dirt path leading to it with a hedge running along one side.

When Matako arrived at the house, Takasugi still looked like a baby. She and Takechi decided they would take care of him together. The two Kiheitai members smiled down at the infant. Takechi, normally less sentimental, was still happy Takasugi had been found. He was also proud that after being told there wasn’t the slightest chance of Takasugi being resurrected like Utsuro, their intuition had actually worked out in their favor.

“The dark purple hair is definitely the same,” Henpeita observed. 

“And now he has two functioning eyes again,” Matako added. She gazed at the baby, whose eyes were open and was looking up at the two of them. “I wonder if he recognizes us yet even in this state…”

Henpeita put a hand on her shoulder. “We can’t know yet, so you shouldn’t worry right now.”

……

Takasugi had reached a new stage of growth within a couple days of arriving at the hideout, looking around preschool age now. Despite hearing what happened to the reborn Utsuro from Gintoki and knowing what altana was capable of, Matako and Henpeita were still amazed to witness Takasugi’s growth first-hand. It reminded them of Princess Kaguya. Altana truly was a powerful energy.

Henpeita went and bought more clothing for Takasugi in a couple different sizes since they didn’t know when his next growth spurt would be. As the strategist of the Kiheitai, he was trying to think ahead. He also bought Yakult, which Takasugi had gone absolutely nuts for in the past. He thought it might even help spur on his memories.

There weren’t many other people in the close-by area to worry about, but Matako felt a sense of protectiveness towards Takasugi during this sensitive time. She didn’t want people to think he was a monster if they noticed his fast growth. She was glad she’d found him when she did instead of him falling into the wrong hands. For the time being, he had to stay near the house at least.

The interesting thing about Shinsuke growing up at an accelerated rate was that he still couldn’t speak, but seemed to understand basic communication in a way. He also easily regained his ability to do certain things such as walking and using chopsticks with only a little instruction if any. He mostly followed the other two around quietly like a puppy and went with the flow of whatever they were doing. Being like a little kid, he could still get into mischief. Gintoki had mentioned that the reborn Shouyou started speaking fully when his memories were unlocked. However, Matako didn’t know if or when Takasugi would regain his memories and return to his old self. 

……

On the second night since Takasugi’s new growth, Matako rolled to her side and smiled softly at him as they were about to go to sleep. They slept in the same room on their own futons since he had his first growth spurt out of babyhood. But Shinsuke was given the one regular-sized blanket in the house. Takechi hadn’t gotten around to shopping for more of those yet. 

For the first time since being reborn, Shinsuke had a dream of various people crying or looking like they’re about to cry. There was the blonde-haired woman called Matako, a man with curly silvery-blue hair, and another man with long light brown hair. In the dream, Shinsuke thought, No… please don’t cry, everyone… 

Shinsuke woke up again early in the morning and turned toward Matako out of curiosity and instinct. She was still asleep but looked cold and exposed from not having a decent blanket. Despite still being tired, he felt an urge to help her, so he dragged his blanket across the room and covered her. Then he laid down next to her on top of the blanket and pulled one edge over himself.

Like a lot of dreams, most of the contents of Shinsuke’s had faded from his mind within a few minutes of being awake, leaving only vague bits and pieces. The details of most of the people had become blurrier, and he wasn’t aware yet that it was based on real experience anyway. 

A few hours later, Takechi stepped in the doorway to the others’ bedroom, asking, “Matako, are you awake yet?”. He had returned from a short visit to the city and was surprised to see the little Takasugi sleeping next to her on top of the blanket. 

Memories of the first time Takechi officially met Matako flashed in his mind: despite the Bakufu confiscating her gun, she did whatever she could to try to save the imprisoned Jouishishi, such as threatening Takechi with a dagger to the back. More important to her than Takasugi acknowledging her or letting her join him was preventing his death, because she believed the country needed him. No doubt, being saved by him personally had also cemented her loyalty and belief that he had a good heart. Takechi had handed back her gun and told her she would do well to take revenge herself. He recalled her surprised face at the end of the battle when Shinsuke simply said, “Let’s go,” letting her know she was included.

I never thought I’d see them as roommates, Henpeita thought.

……

Later the same day, Gintoki was walking towards the Kiheitai hideout when he came upon a little boy standing on the path. Despite looking young, Gintoki could recognize that face anywhere, having grown up with him. Shinsuke stared up at him like a deer caught in headlights.

“So we meet again, huh?” Gintoki stated calmly, his eyes at half-mast.

Meanwhile, Matako was in the house, expecting Gintoki any minute. The Kiheitai had contacted all of Shinsuke’s old friends, and Gintoki was the first who was able to visit. She was suddenly alerted to a child whining, “Let me go! Put me down!” followed by a familiar male voice saying, “Excuse me.” She went into the genkan to see Gintoki holding Shinsuke under his arm

“Let me go!” Shinsuke repeated, trying to wriggle free.

“Is this your kid?” Gintoki asked sarcastically. “He made an impudent face, and I knew right away.” He finally released the boy from his hold.

As Shinsuke went forward to climb over the porch step, kicking his sandals off behind him, Matako grumbled, “...It’s obvious.” Shinsuke dashed past her into the house. “Come in,” she offered to Gintoki.

……

After setting Shinsuke up with a game on the other side of the room, Matako and Gintoki sat across from each other with their own cup of tea. Gintoki eyed him for a bit before focusing on Matako. “How has taking care of him been so far?” he asked.

“It’s been relatively good. It’s not like I have much experience taking care of babies or little kids, but this isn’t a regular situation. Takechi-senpai has also been a big help, I hate to admit…”

“When did he start talking, anyway? He still seems pretty quiet otherwise…”

Matako frowned slightly. “Just today when you showed up carrying him… He never said anything before, so I guess this is progress. I thought you meeting him could change things…”

“Well, yes, I am very influential,” Gintoki joked. “I’m not the main character of my own series for nothing.”

Matako looked downcast, so Gintoki snapped back into seriousness, waiting for her to continue. “I can’t help but compare your situation with Shouyou to ours,” she explained. “I want Shinsuke-sama to be happy no matter what happens, but deep down my hope is he’ll regain his memories and return to being the person we know and love. Am I selfish for this? Would he be better off starting a different life and forgetting Shouka Sonjuku, the Joui War, the Kiheitai, everything?” Her eyes stung with tears. “I won’t abandon him, but I can’t deny there’s still a void from losing a loved one. Not only could we not prevent it, we weren’t there for him during that time. We had no idea he was dying. I thought we were doing the right thing by giving him some space, but it didn't work out for us in the end. We shouldn’t have left him alone…”

Suddenly, Takasugi scurried up next to Matako to hold her hand. He noticed her looking and sounding like she might cry and wanted to comfort her somehow. Matako was surprised by his action, but it made her smile. “Don’t worry, I’m alright,” she reassured him, giving him a one-armed hug. He stood back for a few seconds like he wasn’t sure, then returned to his area.

Gintoki drank more tea with a pensive expression. “You don’t know this, but I actually had amnesia once from a car accident and lost my identity,” he shared. “Yeah, I became a productive member of society and didn’t remember bad memories from my past, but it wasn’t me. My friends struggled to get me back, and while it didn’t happen right away and I left them to start a new life, they still came to get me eventually. So the way you feel is natural, Matako-san. And although I can’t make any guarantees and can only go by my one experience, I’d say you shouldn’t give up… Just be honest with him.”

……

Matako saw Gintoki off at the entrance when it was time to go. “Thank you again for coming, Shiroyasha,” she said. 

“No problem,” Gintoki replied. “And like I said, I’ll also see what else I can do. I’ll talk to Zura and Tatsuma about it too. So, see you guys later.”

“See ya.” That came from Shinsuke, who had come out to the front. Matako and Gintoki were still a little stunned to hear him speak again at all, but Matako did a double take because his yukata was now up to his knees. He definitely looked taller than he was even less than twenty minutes ago! Now he had an elementary school-age appearance. 

Gintoki also noticed and smirked. “Take care now,” he said.

On his way down the path, Gintoki encountered Takechi coming from the opposite direction with a bag in hand. 

“Were you in a hurry?” Takechi asked, stopping.

“I had some barley tea and we talked for a bit,” Gintoki replied. As he walked past Takechi, he continued, “I don’t know what’ll end up happening, but… he definitely doesn’t need diapers anymore,” and waved back.

……

Gintoki, Katsura, and Sakamoto met at a local restaurant and sat at a booth together, with Gintoki on one side and the other two across. He was catching them up on his visit to the Kiheitai from the day before.

“I admit that I was initially skeptical and didn’t think it was possible for him to be resurrected,” Katsura said. “I admit it, I was wrong.”

“Aren’t you glad things are starting to work out, though?” Sakamoto said. 

“Yeah, but there’s still the issue of him getting his memories back, which the Kiheitai care a lot about,” Gintoki pointed out. “Matako-san seemed upset when I talked to her. I think we should all do our best to help in some way. Takasugi was our friend too, so we want him to get his memories back, right?”

Sakamoto turned to Katsura with a smile and said, “Well, since it’s our turn to visit now, let’s go together. We should do it soon this week.”

“Let’s bring presents,” Katsura suggested excitedly. 

……

After Gintoki left the Kiheitai hideout, Takasugi didn’t try to speak the rest of that day or into the next. Matako and Takechi weren’t sure why, but hypothesized maybe his mind was still settling in and it was part of his development. They asked him at one point if he could remember his past, but he shook his head in confusion. So they tried to tell him some more about his background, and he seemed to be listening, but his reaction was calm, almost unreadable.

It wasn’t until after going to bed that more peculiar things happened once again. Takasugi had another dream where he was standing by a river at night with fireworks going off. It was a beautiful sight, and he watched in awe as different colors and even shapes soared across the sky. There were other people around him watching, including three people right in front of him. Then those three people turned around and smiled at him. There was Matako, Takechi, and a green-haired man wearing sunglasses… Bansai. By the way they were looking at him, it seemed like they were happy he was having a good time and enjoyed being with him. 

The scenery changed somehow seamlessly to a man standing in front of a nondescript background. He had long, light brown hair and wore gray and beige clothing, with his arms crossed and tucked into the opposite sleeves of his haori. He was smiling and had a strong aura like a wise and kind person. He said, I’m proud of you, Shinsuke, so don’t give up. 

Shouyou-sensei? Shinsuke thought as the recognition completely dawned on him.

Takasugi didn’t get to hear a response as he woke up soon after that in the morning. Not only had he grown to adult size overnight, he now finally had a realization about himself. That dream had made everything clear. 

He sat up cross-legged, the blanket falling over his lap. Since he grew a lot over night, his yukata had opened up and became more like a shirt, revealing his bare torso and obviously not long enough anymore to cover his bottom half if not for the blanket. 

Matako groaned slightly as she also started to wake up. She tilted her head to look at Takasugi and was met with the grown version of him staring back at her with his mouth slightly agape.

“Wha- Huh?!” Matako gasped, sitting up and pulling her blanket further over her chest out of reflex. She honestly hadn’t expected to wake up that morning and suddenly see Takasugi look basically like the person she’d known for 12 years. Out of awkwardness, she shifted her position to slightly face away from him while her eyes were still pointed his way. She trembled a little as she reached to push some hair out of her face. 

Takasugi put his hand over his left eye. “Hey… It’s me,” he finally said.

In a flash, Matako went forward to kneel in front of him as he lowered his hand. She looked up right into his eyes. “You can see, can’t you?” she asked with concern. 

Takasugi looked down and took in her expression fully, which conveyed intense emotion. “...Yes, I can see …” he answered. “It’s just that I only noticed now that I got it back…”

“How do you feel now?” 

“I’m still trying to process everything and let the fact that this is real settle in… But I know how and why I came back and accept it. On that day, Shouyou-sensei actually told me his plan to sacrifice himself by using up all the altana in his body to cancel out the terminal’s altana. And he was distraught at the time because he didn’t think he could save me as well…” He raised one side of his mouth in a half smile. “I feel like Sensei was by my side until you came to pick me up again. And he still is here in a way…” 

Takasugi took a scan around the room, then continued, “And even before I got my memories back, I’ve seen over the past couple weeks how you and Takechi have taken care of and protected me, so I’m also grateful to you. Also importantly, I’ve wanted to say I’m sorry for leaving the Kiheitai behind without a word and any hurt caused by my absence. I couldn’t tell you what was going on and I didn’t know how much longer I’d have to live or if I’d see you again at all. But thank you for not giving up on me.”

Matako felt her heart swell and couldn’t help herself, leaning forward to give him a big hug. He was momentarily stunned but formed a small smile and reciprocated. “It really was no problem,” Matako said. “You know the Kiheitai will be there for you. And we may not have had the chance to meet your master, but we can’t thank him enough for making this possible...”

……

Once Shinsuke was fully dressed and had gotten his bearings, he said to Takechi when they were outside walking, “Could you hand me your sword? There’s something I want to see…”

Takechi unsheathed his sword and handed it over without a word, his eyes fixed on Shinsuke’s face the whole time.

Shinsuke raised his left hand and carefully pricked the pad of the middle finger. There were some tiny beads of blood, but nothing else happened. After sucking the blood off his finger, he resumed, “I actually don’t think I had to do that to know I’m still mortal, but I just felt like making a point for myself.” He gave Takechi back his sword.

As Takechi put it away, he responded in an amused tone, “I figured that’s why you wanted it.”

Shinsuke chuckled. “I wanna get a new sword sometime soon, though. It doesn’t feel right not having something at my waist. And I might need it anyway if the Kiheitai has plans.”

……

Later that day, Katsura and Sakamoto came over. “Sorry it’s been a while since I last wrote,” Katsura told Matako as they stood at the genkan with him in front of Sakamoto. He held up a paper bag. “This is a gift for you, Matako-san. It’s one of those new-fangled robot vacuums.”

“Oh, wow,” Matako remarked.

Katsura stepped a little closer to her like he was giving her some topic secret advice, but said in a louder voice with his finger pointed up, “For the little one’s sake, we need to make sure we take care of dust in even the nooks and crannies…”

“It’s really nice, but why are you so loud right now? And anyway, Shinsuke-sama is already…”

“Oi,” came a baritone voice from inside, which got Sakamoto and Katsura to crane their necks around Matako. She led them forward so they could see in the doorway.

Takasugi was sitting on the floor holding a kiseru. “You guys are as loud as ever,” he said with a grin.

______

a/n: Thanks for reading! Please like and reblog!

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