Chapter Text
A year had passed since the final battle against Tendoushuu and Utsuro that occurred inside the terminal. The country entered a new era, facing serious issues to overcome before becoming stronger. The people of Edo, now called Tokyo, never stopped standing up against all the problems they had to face.
6 months ago, a major riot occurred in Tokyo, led by Hitotsubashi Hanahana, the one who strengthened the remnants of the bakufu's forces. The unprecedented coup was stopped by Soyo's friends, including Yorozuya, and Hanahana was killed during battle. Now, the country was completely healed from the aftermath of the chaos.
After the defeat of Hanahana, the political instability issues within the country was solved. Nevertheless, the nation still had not healed from the scars of war, and had to rely on Amantos in order to survive. The Amantos used this opportunity to boss around again, prolonging the racism issues. The government tried its best to get rid of such injustice and make a world where humans and Amantos can live in harmony.
It was an ordinary day in Yorozuya Office. Gintoki sat on his chair without moving with a Jump on his face, Kagura lay on the sofa, and Shinpachi was the only one mopping the floor. They spent their day just like they always did.
"Is this how you make your first appearance in a fanfiction?!" Shinpachi shouted. "Stop being lazy and do some work!! The story has already started!!!"
"Nah, we're busy charging our energy." Said Gintoki. "We need to rest in order to do whatever the plot requires us to do later."
"Duh." Said Kagura.
"This fanfiction is the sequel of 'The Grand Rebellion', right? What about doing a recap of the whole plot of that fanfic for the first chapter?" Gintoki suggested.
"Great idea!!" Kagura smiled.
"Harumph." Shinpachi gave up and continued doing chores.
Just then, someone rang the doorbell. Since it was obvious that Gintoki and Kagura won't do a thing, Shinpachi went to open the door. To his surprise, the guest was Sougo.
"Eh? Okita - san?!" Shinpachi was surprised.
"Yo, Danna, China... and who were you?" Sougo greeted.
"I'm Shinpachi!! It's only been a week since we last met and you already don't recognize me?!!" Shinpachi shouted.
"Shinpachi? Wasn't that the unemployed sunglasses?" Sougo said dumbly.
"Yeah, whatever!!!" Shinpachi shouted.
"Why is that bastard here by the way?" Kagura complained. "Wanting to be an important character in this fanfic by appearing so early?"
"A job request." Said Sougo.
"Huh? It's an anomaly for you tax robbers to request a job." Said Gintoki. "And as if I'll help you rotten cops."
"Danna, take this envelope and think again." Sougo gave Gintoki the payment for the job request.
"...!!!" Gintoki was shocked at how much he was getting paid.
"Well?" Sougo smirked.
"Give me any order you want, sir!!!" Gintoki bowed down.
"Gin - san..." Shinpachi sighed.
"We Shinsengumi, as well as other police organizations, are currently dealing with racism issues." Said Sougo. "It is currently the government's largest obstacle."
"The Amantos, right?" Asked Shinpachi.
"Yes." Said Sougo. "After the Altana Liberation Army Invasion, Battle of the Terminal and Hanahana's Rebellion, this country used up too much strength to the point it can't survive without the help of Amantos. That is why the Amantos are still messing around in Tokyo."
"And Soyo - chan is doing her best to stop them, right?" Asked Kagura.
"Yup. She made many new laws about punishing racists and promoting harmony between the two species. In fact, her efforts did work effectively at first." Said Sougo. "However, in recent days, the racism issues are keep getting worse and worse."
"And any idea of the cause of it?" Asked Gintoki.
"It is indeed strange for the attitude of Amantos to change so abruptly, when there was no significant incident to affect them." Said Sougo. "It is odd that the vast majority of Amantos changed almost simultaneously, too. Something might be pulling the threads from behind. Like, a secret organization or something. Or, at least that is what Hijikata - san guessed."
"Any evidence?" Asked Gintoki.
"We Shinsengumi have been investigating for that for a week." Said Sougo. "Yesterday, we finally realized one thing most Amanto racists these days have in common."
"What is it?" Asked Shinpachi.
"Scythe - shaped tattoo." Sougo answered. "Among 17 Amantos we have arrested for violent acts and harassment towards humans, 10 of them had scythe tattoos on their body. That was the evidence for the hypothesis Hijikata - san made. The ones with such tattoos may be affiliated in something we have no information about."
"I see... So this situation has developed this far, huh." Said Gintoki. "So? What do you want us to do?"
"We have tortured the 10 Amanto racists who had scythe tattoos for information, but all of them didn't say out anything notable until the very end. It seems like they do not know anything about the organization, or perhaps such organization never existed in the first place." Sougo explained. "However, Yamazaki managed to find a big shot last night. He claimed that he spotted a lizardman Amanto who violently assaulted a couple and destroyed their car with his bare hands. He also said he found a scythe tattoo on his body, but the design was quite different."
"Design?" Shinpachi wondered.
"The tattoo on that Amanto's body was a blue scythe, with the number '4' written next to it." Said Sougo. "Since the shape of the blue scythe was identical to the ones other racists had, Hijikata - san guessed that he might be a special member of the hypothetical organization we decided to call Scythe, perhaps a cadre."
"Which means he might know something important about the organization that others don't, huh." Said Gintoki.
"Exactly." Said Sougo. "Though, that lizardman Amanto is a strong opponent indeed. Also, if he is really a cadre, he might be able to bring all his henchmen to fight against us. Just in case, we need you three to lend us help."
"Just in case, huh..." Gintoki muttered. "There's no way Hijikata is the one who decided to make us join, right?"
"Of course. This is what I decided on my own. I don't give a damn about what that rotten vice chief will think about this." Said Sougo. "Then, follow me."
"Tch." Kagura was reluctant to do what Sougo asked her to do, but followed him anyways because Gintoki and Shinpachi did so.
Meanwhile, in an unknown place, a mysterious Amanto was calmly reading a book in his room. He was smirking for an unknown reason. A crimson scythe tattoo was on his arm.
"Things are going to get fun soon." The Amanto muttered. "I just have the feeling."
To be continued...