Chapter Text
A.N: Please watch the Ryugujo arc (episode 115), or the summary of the Ryugujo arc in the notes above before reading this story
A.N: This is after the final movie
"Hey, you."
Katsura touched his face. His Elizabeth mask is still on, who would be calling for him ? He turned to see an old lady calling out at him from a stall.
"You look troubled, young man. So much more weary than last time."
"No, I'm good," Katsura replied. "Do I perhaps know you ?"
The old lady sighed. "I can't forget the backs of you and that silver haired samurai even if I want to. The seasons are changing, why don't you come in for a bowl of soup an-"
Katsura's lips twitched. How long had it been since he had a normal conversation ? Ever since he took on the role of a vigilante in this city even that pervert from the Kiheitai was terrified of him.
Still...his phone rang again.
He had to defend Soyo-hime from accusations of assassinations again. Rein in bored former rebels that have lost their jobs. Defend the new government from political assasinations.
"It's not that I do not want to purchase food from your shop I just- sorry I'm running late the princess needs a distraction now !"
Otohime watched as Katsura ran away.
"Purchase ? Can't it be on the house ? Silly boy." She shook her head.
"Young folks in Edo nowadays sure are busy." Urashima commented. "I'm almost glad I was born a thousand years ago."
"Otohime-sama, so you've finally decided what to do with that de-ageing formula I made ?" Urashima hugged her from behind.
"They say, it's better to forget the bad things right? "
"Katsura-san! There are people saying that princess Soyo got you assassinated again! And the Shinsengumi are looking for you too! Something about Katsura-san violating other people's privacy and your Elizabeth costume being too scary! "
The former Joui rebels stood, as no one replied to their reports.
"Katsura-san ?" One of them asked again.
"Elizabeth-san !" The former rebels parted ways as the alien creature raised a sign.
'I have a bad feeling'
They ran into Katsura's room just to find ragged remains of their leader's haori.
Katsura tied his hair up as he struggled to run in his slightly oversized haori. He had cut it up to fit himself, but he had to leave in a hurry as people started shouting his name and barging into the room he was in.
The summer rain beat down on him, as he darted into an alleyway, eyes wide.
Certainly, he had heard of the Amanto. Who had just established contact with Edo a few months ago. People say that their technology and civilisations are extremely advanced.
He looked up to see a flying boat pass by the sky above him, sheltering him from the rain just for a few seconds.
Was he kidnapped?
He was clearly not near the Shoka Sonjuku anymore, or anywhere near the Katsura household. No place on Earth should be this advanced yet. But why can he understand the words on the neon labels hanging proudly on the streets? And there are people speaking Japanese.
Katsura trembled, he was cold. And for some reason, he felt like he shouldn't show his face to the public. He was so tired.
Katsura looked at his bare feet, they were scraped and bruised from running.
He ignored them and begin rushing through the bright and bustling streets labelled Kabuchiko district. He wanted to go home! But his instincts told him that home was no more.
If he was kidnapped, what happened to Gintoki and Takasugi? What happened to Master Shoyo?
He ignored the almost reflexive feeling of unbearable sadness when he thought of the last two names.
"What is it ? Gin-san ?" Shinpachi asked as he shouldered the half-drunk man.
"I thought *hic* I just s-saw Zura."
Shinpachi sighed. "Katsura-san is nowhere near this place." He moved aside as a dark-haired child ran past him.
"Yeah, Zura is allllll grown-up and stupid now," Gintoki said, before falling asleep.
"What is this? A kid that ran away from his house? Did your parents scold you for not eating your broccoli ?" Sougo said, looking quite unimpressed.
Katsura's face paled as a group of uniformed men surrounded him, he was always praised for his good manners and behaviour. Since when was he ever surrounded like this?
"I didn't run away. I live alone."
Hijikata raised an eyebrow. "That's illegal, kid. I'm afraid you'll have to come back to the police station with us so we can call your parents."
Katsura tilted his head. "What do you mean to call? My parents are ..."
He paused, does the Amanto have such advanced technology that they can reach dead people?
"What are you looking so hopeful for? Get in the car."
Katsura turned to the scary black-haired man and beamed. "Thank you! You're all so nice! "
Sougo had a tiny smile on his face while Hijikata coughed. "We're just doing our job. If you really want to thank us, stop running away from your family. Treasure the time you have with them."
Katsura tilted his head a bit at that, 'treasure'? That was a weird thing to say when you can communicate with the dead anytime you want...