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flibbityflob · 5 years

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When the Last Sword is Drawn/Music Revolution!! (Yukigumi, 2019)

After 6 viewings and the shinko, I'd say I've seen this show a lot. I had high hopes going in, and for the most part, this show met them. The movie is stunning, and the story at its core is heartbreaking. The revue didn’t immediately stun me, but after watching it as many times as I have, it’s really grown on me. Beware for Many Many spoilers within. Also this thing is LONG, it’s a fairly detailed summary and i have a LOT of opinions about this show, this troupe, and the revue.

In brief. Or as brief as I can be with this confusing show. In a framing device, we see a ball at the Rokuemeikan in 1885, attended by a group of high ranking people; Matsumoto Ryoujun (Nagina Ruumi), his wife Toki (Chikaze Karen), and Nabeshima Nagako (Himehana Yukino). It's interrupted by a group of thugs who are swiftly defeated by Police Inspector Saitou Hajime (Asami Jun) and his deputy, Ikenami Rokusaburou (Agata Sen). The doctor and nurse of the Rokuemeikan, Oono Chiaki (Aya Ouka) and his wife, Mitsu (Asazuki Kiwa), come by, and it turns out there is some kind of history between Saitou and Mitsu's long dead father.

(For eases sake, I'll skip commenting on the rest of the transitions, just know they're there at fairly regular intervals. I'll get to my opinions on those soon).

We flash back around 40 years. Yoshimura Kanichirou (Nozomi Fuuto) proposes marriage to Shizu (Maaya Kiho), who, after some teasing, accepts him. They're poor, but happy with each other. She meets Yoshimura's best friend, Oono Jiroemon (Ayakaze Sakina), the lord of their domain, who at one point also wished to marry her. After a short scene with Oono's mother, we skip forward 20 years or so. Yoshimura's mother has just passed, and his son, Kaichirou (Ayami Sera), comes to tell him the news that Shizu has attempted to drown herself. After rushing home, he finds Shizu safe and alive. It comes out she tried to kill herself because she's pregnant again, a third child that they won't be able to feed, they're struggling as it is with the harvests as poor as they are. He'll have to find another way to provide for them, and he resolves to abandon his position as a samurai and join the Shinsengumi in Kyoto.

In Kyoto, we meet the Shinsengumi. The introduce themselves with their theme song (something I have not been able to stop singing). The three most important members are Saitou Hajime, only now with long hair, Hijikata Toshizou (Ayanagi Shou), and Okita Souji (Towaki Sea). They lead the rest of the group in a number excelling how good they are. After some conversation, the group has a photo taken of themselves, one ruined by Tani Sanjuurou (Souno Haruto), a man trying to push his brother to succeed Kondou Isami. He is not popular.

Yoshimura leaves his home, gifted a travel pass to allow him safe passage through the country by Oono. Yoshimura and Shizu sing a duet as they part in the snow, Yoshimura leaving his children and wife behind to ensure they survive another year. Yoshimura swears to return home no matter what and after a really fun song sung by Ai Sumire, he's officially part of the Shinsengumi.

This is one of my favourite scenes in the whole show, it's this chaotic mess of a scene where everyone is doing something fun. Tani is entertaining the crowd, whilst his brother Shuuhei (Manomiya Rui) looks on ashamed. Agachin and Nagakura Shinpachi (Machi Yuuka) are bickering in the background. Yoshimura is running around keeping the sake flowing, and soon sits next to Saitou, who he enthuses about his homeland of Morioka to. Saitou fucking hates him almost instantly. The next scene, Saitou tries to kill him for being a sappy, uneducated, family man from the country, before Yoshimura handily bests him.

The Shinsengumi too, do not approve of Yoshimura. He constantly asks after money, not caring much for propriety, and he doesn’t care much for the senseless violence that most of the Shinsengumi are rather famous for. Back home, we see how Yoshimura’s family is. Shizu, Kaichirou, Mitsu, and the baby have been left in the care of Otora (Satsuki Aina) and Okane (Anno Konnomi), who steal the money Yoshimura sends back. In essence, they’re unhappy, still poor, and often ill. Shizu has to sell a hairpin Yoshimura gave to her in order to pay for the medicine her youngest child needs. All in all, nobody is particularly happy.

Back in Kyoto, Ogawa Shintarou (Kujou Asu), has been accused of theft. Hijikata tries to make Souji, Harada Sanousuke (Tachibana Kou), and Nagakura all take on the role of his second (the person in a seppuku who beheads the one killing himself), but all resist his commands. Saitou argues the one who should act as second should be his division comander, Tani, and Hijikata agrees, but Yoshimura will also aid, given Tani’s reputation. During the seppuku, Ogawa fails to properly cut his stomach open and Tani fails to behead him. After a small scuffle, Yoshimura beheads him (in a truly fantastic bit of design, wherein Asu and Daimon head behind a screen, and by using lighting design, sihlouettes, and sound effects, it genuinely does look like a beheading). Many of the Shinsengumi call for Tani’s death, but as personal disputes are banned in the Shinsengumi, Kondou puts a stop to this. Saitou is not happy. Yoshimura begs Hijikata for more money, and after he leaves, Saitou comes onstage to tell Okita, Harada, and Nagakura his plan to eliminate the man they all hate. Some members of the Shinsengumi have defected, and during a fight they know will be happening soon, they can take advantage of the confusion to execute him and pass his death off as casualty in battle.

After a brief interlude in Morioka, where we hear that Oono is moving to Osaka with his family, and that by and by, Yoshimura’s family are doing well, we come to the Aburakouji incident. Kondou and the Shinsengumi ambush Itou Kashitarou (Kiraha Reo) and Toudou Heisuke (Suwa Saki), who are attempting to asssasinate Kondou. After a scuffle, Yoshimura excecutes both Itou and Toudou, and soon after Saitou assasinates Tani. This leads to my favourite encounter in the whole play, wherin Nagakura and Harada “discover” Tani’s body. They comically overact the whole thing, and Okita and Saitou make some snide comments about how bad of a pair of actors they are.

Following this, we’re introduced to Miyo (also Maaya Kiho), the daughter of the family hosting the Shinsengumi in Kyoto, who’s been in love with Yoshimura for years and wishes to marry him. She wants to convince Kondou and Hijikata to let Yoshimura leave the Shinsengumi and lead a peaceful life.

Saitou comes across Yoshimura investigating the body of Tani, and Yoshimura quite deftly points out that there’s no way Tani could have died in the brawl, and that the only person who could have assasinated him was Saitou (Saitou wields a sword with his left hand, and the wound was inflicted by a left hander). Yoshimura blackmails Saitou into paying him off, and walks away twenty ryou richer. Shuuhei comes on, desperately screaming at the murder four (Saitou, Okita, Nagakura, and Harada) to bring his brother back. Hijikata pays Saitou back the twenty ryou he paid to Yoshimura.

After another of the framing device sections, we come to the marriage interview between Yoshimura and Miyo, Yoshimura clearly completley distressed by the whole affair but too terrified of losing his position to say anything. Hijikata and Kondou speak of their plans to let Yoshimura divorce Shizu, and to leave the Shinsengumi. Yoshimura cannot find the words to reject them, but Ikenami steps in and tells them all how they don’t understand the pains of the common people. Yoshimura slaps him, hugs him, and then leaves, followed by Miyo, who he waxes lyrical to about his wife. This leads into a beautiful tanbata scene, where Yoshimura allows himself for just a second to indulge in hugging Miyo, before the guilt gets the better of him and he runs off.

The people of Kyoto and Oono’s forces in Osaka sing of the troubling times as the Shinsengumi begin their march to Osaka, ending as the curtain rises on the thoroughly beaten and bruised Shinsengumi. After some time, Hijikata orders a retreat which Yoshimura rejects, leading a suicide attack on the government’s forces, during which he is shot and stabbed. He makes his way to his clan’s storehouse, to get permission to return to Morioka to be with his family, and meets Oono there. Oono, bound by his duty, orders him instead to commit seppuku, which he does, after a truly heartwrenching sequence in which Yoshimura counts the money he was going to spend on things for his family. His sword and hair are brought back to his family, and his son resolves to fight alongside Oono in the upcoming conflict. Both die in battle, with Oono dying heartbreakingly so onstage.

We return to the framing device, where the Meiji players contemplate what kind of man Yoshimura was. Ryoujun leads a reprise of Yoshimura and Shizu’s duet, which they take over, as the whole troupe joins in and cherry blossoms finally bloom.

I loved this show a whole lot. A whole whole WHOLE lot. My tastes lie deep in “tragic nihonmono that don’t involve a lot of politics,” “Nozomi Fuuto as a dad,” and “Agata Sen having just The Best Time.” I got all three in SPADES. This show is a character driven one, in my eyes, with the core conflict being internal. Yoshimura does arguably terrible things to keep himself afloat, and to keep providing for his family, and all the while daimon ACHES with this need to return home. Whenever given the chance, he waxes lyrical about how much he loves his homeland, his family, and especially his wife. When dying, the last words he speaks are his wife’s name. Yoshimura loves his family more than anything else in the world and it comes through with literally everything Daimon does. The tragedy is clear from the start, and once the last 15 minuites or so start you know there’s only one ending. But there’s even more beautiful tragedy that I can’t bring myself to spoil that just makes everything worse, more painful.

My biggest issue with the show is the framing device. Whilst I don’t mind it too much, I know others hate it a LOT more than I do, and I get why. Every so often, the Rokumeikan crew will walk along the ginkyo or across the stage and exposit about where certain people were at certain points, and it did have the effect of completely breaking the flow of action and tension. Hime and Agachin stand out as the MVPs of those scenes, but Agachin was only in a few of them and Hime can only do so much alone. I didn’t hate them, but I do get why one might.

Nozomi Fuuto as Yoshimura Kanichirou was fucking fantastic, genuinely one of the best performances i’ve ever seen her bring. She has the unenviable task of delivering a really nuanced, sad character whilst also speaking perfectly in a very strong accent, and does it without breaking a sweat. I don’t have enough good things to say about her accent, by the way. I feel like it could be a touch controversial, and it does make her impossible to understand (my Japanese friends agreed, it’s a HARD one), but it adds so much to her character. Daimon’s face was designed to look good when sad, and this show is no exception, she has a kind of mastery over these faces that just ache lonliness like nobody else in the world does. Her voice as she’s dying is so broken, these little gasps of pain are just sublime and her voice as she’s counting out the coins she’s earned over her six years is so beautifully sad. Her performance is exceptional in how subtle it is. She doesn’t bring anything big or ballistic to the table, she just tries to create a picture of this man desperate to do what’s right for his loved ones and to his own code of honour to the table. His last moments are so desperaetly sad because you know full well he regrets everything he’s done to get there, and in the same breath knows it’s his supposed duty as a samurai to have done what he did. Yoshimura is a hard role and Daimon made him look easy, and carried off the accent too. I can’t imagine anyone else in this role.

Maaya Kiho played two roles in this, and I fucking loved them both. I will say, I wish her role as Shizu had been given a little more weight, but I loved Miyo enough that I can’t stay too angry. She plays Shizu at two points in her life, first young and giddy in love, and then older, married, a mother, and far far more tired. As that younger Shizu she plays her with such life, her Shizu is teasingly affectionate to Yoshimura, but clearly in love with him. On my last performance I noticed that during her first scene, before Yoshimura proposes to her, she’s fixing up her hair and kimono, making herself look as pretty as she can. It’s adorable. As the older Shizu she carries this utter grace with her, world weary and hard done by. Her and Daimon have amazing chemistry together, they play this old married couple so well, both softly amused by their children even when it’s their last moments together. Her maturity is so quiet, so calm, and it’s another half of these two incredibly subtle performances the top combi give. As Miyo she’s a bratty selfish teenager, and it’s her earlier maturity as Shizu that makes Miyo even more entertaining. She’s selfish in that way only spoiled kids are, saying she’s completely in love with Yoshimura when she’s barely shared a conversation with him, and acting as if he’d be perfectly willing to abandon his whole family to marry her. It’s not the biggest role but she imbues it with such grace and charm I can’t help but adore it.

Ayakaze Sakina was unfortunately typecast again as the best friend, and it’s absolutely detremential to her. Oono, in my eyes, is just straight up not an interesting character. His major role is acting as the exposition dumper, and his few scenes of humanising moments don’t work for me like they should because I don’t buy him as a character properly. I want Saki to get a good, interesting role that forces her out of her shell as just the best friend and I’m annoyed she didn’t get it here.

Asami Jun was the nibante, to be frank. Her Saitou was gruff and angry and simmering with barely restrained loathing for Yoshimura, and I fucking loved it. It didn’t blow me away like I think that role could have but Aasa I think tried her damn hardest, biting onto what she got given and trying with all her might. The relationship between Yoshimura and Saitou didn’t land quite as it could have, and I can’t blame all of that on the writing (only a decent chunk of it). Aasa’s Saitou hated Yoshimura too much, which I think made her sudden face turn at the end of the play towards sympathy to Yoshimura feel a little flat, but I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really looking at her during that scene at all (and we’ll get to why soon).

Shou is still our sanbante but it’s entirely in name only at this point. Hijikata is a tiny role, she gets to sit and scowel, and grumble “Mendoksei, mendoksei” at the murder four, and it’s just. Not interesting. And I so wish it was, because I love Shou. She’s quietly endeared, to my eyes, by their nonsense, which I think was perhaps more of Shou than the role, but it was rather fun all the same.

Towaki Sea got a role on the smaller end too, but definitely one bigger than Shou. Okita Souji is a fun role, a violent shitty dude, but also a really fun genki one. Her and Aasa have a really fun dynamic together, really fed up with the bullshit of everyone around them, especially from Yoshimura and Tani, who they hate for very different reasons. Her adlibs with Aasa, Macchi, and Tachi were really fun, and she really played the heart of that group, if a very violent angry one. I don’t know what I CAN say about her Souji, though, because he wasn’t the biggest role in the world. What I can say is that Hitoko is putting her heart and soul into everything, even moreso than I think she was in mura, what with the looming transfer and all.

Aya Ouka was… I don’t think she’s tracked any more. On paper she has a role the same size as Agachin’s but whilst Agachin was taking what she was given and running with it, Ayana was projecting at a brick wall. Ayana played Chiaki, Oono’s son, who I think could have acted as another half of the emotional core of the story, but it would have required a damn sight more than what Ayana was giving. I don’t want to be too harsh on her, but she just wasn’t bringing anything at all to the show. The script wasn’t amazing towards her but I think she well could have made something of it. I know this, because…

Agata Sen fucking DID. I have fallen completely and utterly head over heels with Agata Sen and anyone who knows me knows that fact but I am writing this with as little bias as I can be (but I WAS watching her with opera glasses for literally every show so like. Only so much). Ikenami Rokusaburou also wasn’t a huge role on paper, and could well have been boring and forgettable but Agachin did SO MUCH for it. Ikenami is one of the only survivors of the Shinsengumi, and ends up a police inspector with Saitou. She’s present in the Shinsengumi scenes and ends up forming a very sweet bond with Yoshimura in the process, going from actively antagonising him (with the aim of sucking up to Kondou) to defending him in a really lovely scene, calling out the bullshit of Kondou and Hijikata, and how they just don’t get the struggles of common people. Her line delivery of her speech to Kondou and Hijikata told a story without saying any of it, and it’s absolutely fantastic. And she’s the fucking BEST in the background, I know full well the blu-ray won’t capture any of it but every single day she and Macchi were pulling out new types of bullshit and I think Macchi is going to kill her sometime soon. I love her so very much and she’s going to be Something very very soon. Just you wait.

Kacha was. There. Completely irrelevant and doing nothing for the plot, just awkwardly hanging around during the Rokumeikan scenes. I don’t think anyone enjoyed this role, she didn’t actually DO anything, and I took particular insult to her starting off the finale because there was no emotional reason for her to do so! I didn’t like this role and I can’t imagine her die hard fans did either.

Other people of note

Mana Harutou was a really fun Kondou, playing him as a rather useless leader, stuck in indecision and almost inept at points. It was a nice role, and I hope she keeps getting roles like this, not enormous, but still big. She’s one of my favourites.

Kiraha Reo is still playing two roles in a show (though only one of them matters) and I can’t help but laugh. Itou isn’t the biggest role either, but she gives him a decent amount of depth, clearly holding some resentment towards the Shinsengumi from the start, and dripping with loathing as they take him and his rebellion out.

Kujou Asu gets the worst role of the lot, a nothing samurai who has to commit seppuku and fails terribly at it, but she has a lot of fun running around with her hair loose, covered in blood.

Souno Haruto, our new Kumichou, also having the time of her life as the comedic side relief Tani Sanjuurou. Every day during one scene she’d force Manaharu into a love suicide and every day it had me quietly losing my SHIT. She’s the best.

I’ve wanted better things for Ai Sumire for the longest time and so hearing her get a solo in this? Thank the LORD. she’s a great singer and it’s great we’re using her more.

I just really like Manomiya Rui, y’all? She has the friendliest otome picture and her energy is so nice. She was fun as Shuuhei.

Tachibana Kou and Macchi Yuuka were my absolute favourite part of this show by a country MILE. Comedic side relief and vicious killers all at once. I can’t wait to see how absolutely awful their fake acting gets by raku.

Music Revolution grew on me. It’s a Nakamura revue and it is, to its core, a Nakamura revue, but in my eyes it’s one of his best. Not just because of copious amounts of Agachin but good GRIEF she is a spectacular dancer and this revue shows that off.

The theme song is a complete banger, black and dark grey outfits and some really genuinely tight choreography from Yukigumi. Daimon’s voice could fill the whole theatre without a microphone and so could Kiichan’s and they absolutely owned the show. Daimon seems absurdly full of energy, and it’s REALLY nice to see her leading the troupe having so much fun at the same time. Everyone on the track gets a little moment, even down to Agachin and Ayana, and I can’t help but feel an enormous amount of pride for the whole troupe. I love them, they feel like home so very much.

The revolution scene fucking OWNS. Daimon leads a group of argentinian revolutionaries against the forces of the British army and comes out on top. Everyone’s singing at 200%, especially Maaya motherfucking Kiho, and dancing in really tight formation. They look and sound amazing. Aasa and Hitoko lead the British forces and they also look DAMN good in those red uniforms, and dance REAL good too. I would say it’s my favourite number of the revue but practically every number is, so.

Then comes your standard Nakamura B jazz number, led by Saki with Agachin and Ayana behind her. It’s a really fun couple minutes, just the whole troupe leaping around and dancing, culminating in a fake music duel between Agachin on the trumpet and Ayana on the saxaphone, and it’s super fun! Agachin does this flying leap every day and it’s fucking fantastic, I love watching her dance. Aki and Hime get a duet (a reoccuring feature, and not one I’m mad about, they’re really fun together), and it’s just a really good time.

The chuuzume I couldnt love more. It goes on forever and yet every single kangeki I was sitting in my seat BEAMING when Aasa starts singing and neon lights blast, it was so fun. It goes from one extreme to another with lightining speed, and yukigumi moves in absolute harmony, and it’s just. Great. Every day Daimon, Kiichan, Kacha, Saki, Aasa, and Hitoko find new nonsense to do on the ginkyou as the rest of the troupe goes into the aisles and it’s just such a warm feelgood time I can’t help but be happy watching it.

Hitoko gets a really fun little number, to fucking Pachabel’s Canon, which I went in expecting to hate (as a musician i’ve heard that damn song too many times) but ended up loving (I’m a sucker for electric guitars). Following the transfer announcement the amount of applause Hitoko got for this scene skyrocketed and that’s something I can’t help but love. She’s an excellent dancer (not that i’d know it. Agachin was in that scene. I was looking at her literally every single time).

Inexplicably Nakamura decided to add in a taidan number for Daimon and Kiichan, though I suppose the real taidan is for Hitoko’s heart (poor dear is already starting to crack and will absolutely be a wreck by raku). It’s fun and catchy and it’s nice to see the remaining 89ths have fun together, and for Daimon and Kiichan to just be completely nerdy.

We finally, after two years, have a Daimongumi kuroenbi and it’s absolutely fantastic. Everyone looks stellar in tailcoats, we dance with precicion and order and Daimon sings like nobody’s business. They look good, they sound good, and it’s just. The best.

I adore the duet dance. Daimon and Kiichan gently dance whilst Ai Sumire sings and it’s just overall really really nice. It’s almost ethereal, purple outfits and a shit ton of smoke and Daimon and Kiichan clearly just. Adore each other. Their freindship is clearly so strong and sweet and they really suit each other.

I loved this whole show. Whilst I think I prefer Hikarifuru as a show, this takes the cake for my favourite pairing of shows. They’re both super strong and I can’t help but love the shit out of them. Daimon and Kiichan’s chemistry feels so easy and comfortable, two people who just Get Each Other, and it’s so nice to see them play off each other. I wish Kiichan had more to do, but like. She deserves everything. Fingers crossed our next revue does right by her (please give us an Uekumi revue i’m BEGGING you).

#takarazuka #yukigumi #nozomi fuuto #maaya kiho #ayakaze sakina #my reviews #this is long and not proofread and goes from highly analytical to me crushing on agata sen you cannot make me change or stop #also dont read if you dont want spoilers for this show ajdknjasd it is spoiler heavy

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foreversilversoul-blog · 5 years

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Gintama Fanfiction: Never try to mimic someone else's writing. It will just make you look stupid!

(Disclaimer: Gintama belongs to Sorachi Hideaki. This is just a stupid attempt at replicating the humor of Gintama and making fun of things created by people way more creative than me. Don't take it too seriously. All the jokes are just meant to be jokes. No offense on any ship, character or fan is intended. It is written for fun.).

Setting: A shot of the Yorozuya building from outside (You know the one).

Kagura: Good morning!

Gintoki: Jeez, don’t talk so loudly early in the morning. You are hurting poor Gin san’s head.

Kagura: That’s what happens when you drink all day you moron.

Gintoki: Yeah yeah I heard that already. Just bring me a glass of water will you?

Kagura: Go get it yourself you are closer.

Gintoki: That’s horrible you ungrateful brat. Why is it that parents always sacrifice so much to raise their child but then the damn brat can’t even bring a glass of water once the parent grows old?

Kagura: You didn’t raise me and you are not even that old. Go get it yourself.

Gintoki: Kids these days. Fine I’ll get it myself.

Kagura: Bring me some as well.

Shinpachi: WHAT ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT!

Gin and Kagura: Huh?

Shinpachi: What is going on here? What are you guys even talking about? Why are you just lying there and acting like you are doing things?

Kagura: Calm down glasses. This isn't even real.

Gintoki: It is just a cheap fanfiction Pattsuan, relax. I’m not going to get up from the couch for that.

Shinpachi: What?

Gintoki: Yeah. Didn’t you notice? We don’t even talk like ourselves.

Kagura: Yeah it is just some random guy living in his parents’ basement trying to mimic the gorilla’s style.

Shinpachi: Hold on? So it isn’t the gorilla writing it?

Kagura: It might be a gorilla for all we know.

Gintoki: It just isn’t our gorilla. By the way Kagura, what happened to your accent?

Kagura: What do you mean, uh-huh?

Gintoki: Nevermind. It sounds stupid. Go back to talking normaly.

Kagura: Shut up. So what are we going to do, just sit here and talk?

Shinpachi: Yeah, usually fanfictions have some action and romance right?

Gintoki: Oi oi, why are you blushing Pattsuan? Are you excited to finally graduate from being a virgin?

Kagura: It doesn’t work like that you know? You will still be virgin no matter what happens here. You will always be a virgin unless the gorilla does something about it.

Shinpachi: STOP TALKING ABOUT THAT!

Gintoki: Calm down you two there is no need to worry about this being canon or not for Shinpachi.

Kagura: What do you mean?

Gintoki: Have you ever checked the internet? Noone writes anything like that for him anyway.

Kagura: Huh really? Even the fans don’t give him any action then?

Shinpachi: SHUT UP! It is not my fault those guys don’t see my potential. Have you seen me in the second movie? I looked really cool there.

Gintoki: That one gets some action actually. In fact, your fake future self actually gets more action than you.

Shinpachi: Wha-

Kagura: It is a little weird. I would think that Shinpachi would be the perfect character for a bland harem story lead.

Gintoki: Now that you mention it, he looks like the perfect character to fall into a different world governed by some video game rules where random busty girls start falling in love with him for no reason.

Kagura: Yeah, because no girl in the real world would ever fall for him.

Shinpachi: STOP! We are not turning this into a Shinpachi roasting story. Who would even want to read that?

Kagura: I don’t know. It worked just fine for 700 chapters of the manga.

Gintoki: That was pretty much all we did and people still bought it.

Shinpachi: THERE WERE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT MANGA DAMN IT! IT WASN’T JUST ABOUT MAKING FUN OF ME.

Gintoki: Really? I don’t remember anything else.

Kagura: Yeah just making fun of Shinpachi and making references to other shows here and there.

Shinpachi: Have you guys paid any attention to the manga?

Gintoki: Relax Pattsuan. We are just trying to be newcomer friendly.

Kagura: Yeah most people dropped the anime after the first 20 episodes anyway, so might as well ignore the rest.

Shinpachi: That doesn’t even make sense. Why would anyone who hasn’t finished the anime even read a fanfiction about it?

Kagura and Gintoki: To make fun of it.

Shinpachi: NOT EVERYONE IS AS EVIL AS YOU DAMN IT.

Gintoki: Whatever. Is anything even going to happen in this fanfiction? It has been over two pages and we are just blabbering random stuff as always.

Kagura: I don’t mind. I get paid anyway and I’m glad that I don’t have to interract with that sadistic freak for once in one of these.

Gintoki: Well I’m not happy. Shouldn’t I be getting some action by now? It is the only reason I bother appearing in these things. Unlike the gorilla, they also let me have some nice action. Yet I have to stare at your ugly mugs again in this one. Where are the babes damn it?

Shinpachi: Yeah there are no girls here.

Kagura: Well technically, I’m a-

Gintoki: THERE ARE NO GIRLS HERE.

Shinpachi: Yeah. I wish Otsu chan would get some role.

Kagura: Hey. Stop ignoring me you bastards.

Gintoki: How would that work? The only thing she is good for is singing and that wouldn’t even work in writing.

Shinpachi: It works in the manga.

Gintoki: No it doesn’t. That’s why noone cares for her. Can’t we get Ketsuno Ana here?

Shinpachi: I don’t think she is that popular either.

Gintoki: People don’t have any taste. Fine then, bring me someone popular. I just want some action at this point. (Knock on the door). Finally, Gin san is going to get some action. You two go out and do something else. (Opens the door).

Hijikata: Yorozuya, I’m here to arrest you. I will have to handcuff you to myself but I don’t have the keys so we’ll just open it when we get back to the sta-

Gintoki: (Slams the door) NOT THAT DAMN IT. I’m sick of seeing that nicotine freak. Give me someone else. Someone that I actually had some romantic interractions with. (Another knock on the door).

Hasegawa: Gin san, I need some money and I’d do anything for it. Anything.

Gintoki: (Slams the door again) Fuck it I give up. Why does everything have to be turned into a punchline anyway? That’s not how fanfiction works. You don’t have to write like the gorilla. You are supposed to live your sexual fantasies through us, don’t you know?

Kagura: Well who would you prefer then? Did you even have any girls that you had romantic interactions with?

Gintoki: Well if you ask me who I would want, then I would probably say-

Shinpachi: NO! DON’T TURN THIS INTO A PLACE FOR SHIPPING WARS DAMN IT.

Gintoki: I know. Do you think I’m that stupid? I was going to say Ketsuno Ana. That one never causes any issues.

Kagura: Yeah, because noone really takes your crush on her seriously.

Gintoki: Exactly. Fucking assholes.

Shinpachi: Can you guys stop insulting our fans? It has been almost four pages and nothing happened so far.

Gintoki: ...

Kagura: …

Shinpachi: What is going on, why is noone talking?

Gintoki: …

Kagura: …

Shinpachi: SAY SOMETHING DAMN IT!

Gintoki: What do you want us to say? This fanfiction is already hopeless Pattsuan. The best thing we can do is stall a bit so we manage to go over four pages.

Kagura: Yeah, I’d prefer if this thing ends before any other random character shows up and people try to pair me up with them. Especially-

Gintoki: Don’t. Give them. Ideas.

Sadaharu: (By the window) WAN!

Shinpachi: What is it Sadaharu? Oh the shinsengumi is coming here. Hijikata san and Okita san specifically. And they seem to have handcuffs and a-

Gintoki: And this is where this story ends. Good bye everyone.

Kagura: Tune in next time kids where we will be doing something actually entertaining. Hopefully.

Shinpachi: WAIT, Gin san, Kagura chan. Damn it. We didn’t even make it to the end of the fourth page. Why can’t I get some action for once. (Another knock on the door. Shinpachi gets excited and opens the door).

Gedomaru: Hi. I have to go and fight a war with Satan and I was wondering if you could take care of my midnight snack- I mean this pandemonium while I’m away.

(Shinpachi slams the door and walks away).

#Gintama #Sakata Gintoki #Kagura #Shinpachi #Fanfiction #anime

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rike-with-love · 6 years

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A headcanon challenge

Source for the questions

Source for the photo

My baby boi! I hope you enjoy! May contain spoilers for some.

Character: Okita Sougo This Character is from: Gintama

--- 1. Real Name: Okita Sougo 2. Age: 18 for most of the series, 20 after the time-skip 3. Birthday: July 8 4. Family members: Unnamed parents (deceased), older sister Okita Mitsuba (deceased) 5. Relationships: On-going rivalry filled with sexual tension with Kagura, sees Kondou Isao as a father figure, hate-love-hate-hate relationship with Hijikata Toushirou 6. Hidden talent: a mastermind in coming up ways to kill a certain vice-commander 7. Their Job: A tax-robber First division captain of the Shinsengumi, a police officer 8. Hobbies: fight with Kagura, kill Hijikata, train, avoid work 9. Something they dream of doing: Becoming the leader of the Shinsengumi, he even has a name prepared: Kaiser Okita de Sade Sougo III a.k.a. Bakaiser. His real dream is to live a pretty ordinary peaceful life with the people he cares about. 10. A food they can't resist: There isn’t a specific food he can’t resist, but he can’t resist spicing up other people’s food with a couple bottles of tabasco 11. Favorite sport to play: anything with Kagura 12. Favorite sport to watch: anything with Kagura and Hijikata dodging his death traps 13. Religion: Karma is a bitch 14. Worst fear: to lose the person he loves the most, again. You know who I’m talking about. 15. Injuries: boi has a broken heart from losing Mitsuba: < 16. Something they dream of having: Kagura do-M 17. How they react under pressure: he pushes through 18. Hot or cold places?: doesn’t matter, Kagura brings the heat with her 19. What literature they enjoy: an occasional JUMP 20. What movies they would watch: Kiki’s delivery service (he likes Kiki), also anything gory will do, and because he loves her, Kagura’s favourite movies. 21. What music they would listen to: A remix of Hijikata’s screams 22. Morning schedule: up before dawn, train, nap, eat, nap, find China 23. An object that is important to them: his katana, with his sword he can protect his loved ones 24. A skill they are bad at: BEING OPEN ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS YOU BRAT. JUST FREAKING TELL HER 25. Something relaxing: after fight napping with Kagura 26. Pet-Peeve: anyone trying to hurt Kagura 27. Favorite holiday: Sakura festival 28. Favorite color: RED 29. Do they prefer simpler life, or more modern life?: doesn’t matter, which ever Kagura desires for them 30. Favorite animal: rabbit and miss piggy 31. 5 words to describe them: Sadist, loyal, fearless, stupid, smoking hot 32. Nationality: Japanese 33. A goal they have: to “kill” Hijikata 34. Where they would go on vacation: He would love to visit his home from the country side with a special someone 35. Where they live: at the Shinsengumi compound 36. Where they would like to live: With Kagura 37. How they would react to being the last person on the Earth: bored as hell 38. Do they like being in pictures?: He is very photogenic. Depending on his moody, he will make bunny ears for someone or act rather normally 39. A pet they had: None, he is affrais to get attached to anything 40. A person that gives them encouragement: K-A-G-U-R-A! 41. A person that demoralizes them: Also Kagura if he has done something extremely stupid 42. Something that angers them: Betrayal 43. Something that pleases them: ...Kagura...in many ways... 44. Political party/viewpoint: Catch all the Joui members 45. Preferred weapon: kiku-ichimonji RX-78 and a bazooka 46. Favorite type of weather: rain saddens his wife, so anything other than rain 47. 3 companions in a zombie apocalypse: Kagura, Kondou, Hijikata. He already has 459 plans to torment Hijikata. 48. Viewpoint on accepting help: stubborn af 49. The perfect day: a fierce fight with Kagura, winning the fight and claiming the award ;3 later 50. Something they want to learn about: Kagura’s thoughts on life. AW..sorry :P 51. Education: Kondo’s dojo 52. Favorite mode of transportation: a police car 53. Driving skills: Excellent 54. Favorite board game: anything with Kagura 55. How they react while in the spotlight: depends on his mood, he can be flashy or your worst nightmare 56. Did they inherit anything from their parents/guardians?: A caring heart, which he hides most of the time 57. A time they were lied to and haven't gotten over it: When that asshole dude was going to marry Mitsuba only to gain affiliation with the Shinsengumi 58. Something they tried out for/applied to but didn't make it: He proposed to Kagura, but she didn’t exactly answer him... 59. Favorite place to sleep: Kagura’s lap 60. Something they need to be corrected on: his behaviour 61. Have they kept a journal? How did it turn out?: He is too lazy for that 62. Something they are allergic to: Mayonnaise...I guess 63. Do they get lost easily?: No, he always finds Kagura. Uh, what was the question? 64. Favorite season: Spring 65. Do they listen to their instinct?: Hell yes 66. Are they easy to approach?: Hell no, unless you are a masochist 67. A type of art they would like: “Oi China! Send me nudes!” 68. Something they don't leave home without: katana and sleeping mask 69. Something they have a reputation for: being a sadistic asshole 70. Do they get into trouble often?: Many times the trouble comes to him 71. Do they easily accept advice?: NO 72. Their history: He is a country samurai who came to the big city with Kondo and his dojo members. At a very young age, he became a captain of the first division. 73. Do they deal well with pain?: physical yes, emotional no 74. Their reaction to receiving compliments: Depends on who it’s from 75. Do they swear a lot?: In beeeeeeeeeeeeeedd......sry :3 76. A place they go to think: to the park 77. How they would react to becoming blind (If the character is blind, then being able to see again): he would hone his skills with the sword to overcome his lack of sight 78. Something they collect: rivals 79. Something they're proud of accomplishing: becoming a captain 80. A secret they have: he knows it, don’t you wuss? TELL HER! 81. Are aliens real?: HIS WIFE IS AN ALIEN, yes 82. Which is better? Luck or skill?: Skill al the way 83. Would they rather money or happiness?: happiness 84. Would they rather be the shining knight, or the ferocious dragon?: he would be the ferocious knight, he doesn’t care about shining or dragons. He is more of an rabbit man 85. Are they competitive? Who would they have a rivalry with?: HAHAHAAA! Oh! I’m sorry, I can’t answer this : D 86. Something that disgusts them: again, betrayal, dishonesty 87. Are they a romantic?: yes, but that’s something for her eyes only 88. An unpopular opinion of theirs: he thinks that he is nothing more than a killer, no you’re not * o * 89. Someone they can relate to: Kagura, Nobume and please don’t tell him I’m saying this, Hijikata 90. The strangest thing they've ever seen: the sexiest? Oh, his future wife ofc. 91. The best dream they've ever had: well, it was about Kagura and there were some outfits involved, I don’t know, I wasn’t listening. 92. Something they could talk to anyone about: Die Hijibaka-san 93. What they would give to save someone's life: his life 94. Something they threw away that they wish they had kept: the last years of Mitsuba’s life, he regrets that they didn’t spent it together 95. Something they regret: see the previous answer 96. Someone they would be there for, no matter what: Kagura, Kondo, Hijikata 97. A bad habit: trying to kill Hijikata 98. An aroma they like: her scent 99. Something they wish they could do over: Kagura’s fake funeral, he got some new ideas to make them even worse 100. Who do they look up to?: Gorilla commander

Hehe, there you go :3

#okikagu #otp #gintama #headcanon #challenge

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luna-rainbow · 7 years

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gintama live action

Very surprised but very happy this movie showed in my country!

As people may/may not already know, Gintama is doing well at the Japanese box office and is now leading the pack as the highest grossing Japanese-made movie in 2017 (10th grossing overall on the domestic charts for the year), and I believe it hasn't completed its run yet. According to Box Office Mojo, it's sitting around USD$28.2 million. For comparison's sake, manga-to-movie historical fictions Rurouni Kenshin (the first one) finished up with USD$36.8 million and last year's Nobunaga Concerto ended similarly with USD$36.1 million. That's nothing on last year's surprise hit Kimi no na wa, which grossed a whopping USD$235 million, but is still a respectable result.

DO NOT READ ON IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE BENIZAKURA ARC

Like Rurouni Kenshin before it, Gintama has the good fortune to have a director who understands and is comfortable with the tone of the series. The movie mirrors the original in how well it switched between cool and funny and tense and silly, with an excellent sense of comic timing. Where direction is concerned, the only letdown is towards the end - one of the main reasons Gintama is so popular is that apart from making you laugh at unexpected times, it can also make you cry when you least expect it coming. What should have been a touching moment between the Joui trio (Sakamoto is still sad he's left out of the picture) didn't quite string out the emotions, and what should have been a sad regretful moment of a man dying for his mistakes again didn't quite hit the note it managed in the anime.

In terms of visual presentation, I confess I didn't come in with a high expectation. There's a lot of cheap-looking CG littered around, but then again, this is Gintama, it fits with the series' endless complaints of being poor anyway. Sadaharu looked ridiculously fake but I think most fans are happy that it's even there. The fights were, unsurprisingly, less impressive than Rurouni Kenshin, but there's reasonable care in the choreography so that they still look tense.

In terms of the characters, I think most people would be pleased. I guess my disclaimer would be that I've seen most of the actors in heaps of other stuff, so I no longer think of the actors as "hot" or "not hot".

Oguri Shun (I'm proud to say as expected XD) is en pointe as Gintoki, getting the characters overt laziness and understated coolness just right. Suda Masaki and Hashimoto Kanna are both pleasant surprises - mainly because I've seen Suda Masaki over-act things, but his Shinpachi had amazing comic timing, and managed to be sweet and brave and ordinary all at once. Hashimoto's acting is a little bit green but you wouldn't notice it in most scenes, and she certainly takes to Kagura's tomboyish violence with panache. And the cuteness of a thousand-year-beauty is pretty damn cute, all you otaku boys hating on her being "fat" needs to STFU and look at yourselves. Nagasawa Masami owned it as Otae, and there was just enough of the character to make it memorable without her coming across as a crazy annoying violent banshee.

The Shinsengumi's function in this movie is pretty much fanservice and the story wouldn't have lost anything with their absence. Their brief appearances don't quite capture the fascinating dynamics between Kondo, Okita and Hijikata, nor does it really give the actors to do much with their roles. The Mitsuba Arc fares better - but because of how iconic that story is, and how memorable the voice actors' portrayals had been, it was hard to live up to. Hijikata is the embodiment of tsundere, and the reason the Mitsuba Arc (and Shinsengumi Douran) were so beautiful was all the suppressed emotions were obvious without being spoken aloud. Less would have been a lot more with Hijikata in the Mitsuba Arc, but overall the Mitsuba Arc was better than expected.

Katsura was also another pleasant surprise. Don't get me wrong, I adore Okada Masaki, but he doesn't always get it right with his acting. Fortunately, you only see Zura's straight-laced samurai side here, and Okada was in command of all the brief appearances, managing cool and impressive even with less than 20 minutes of screen time (alright, he also had the coolest introduction, so the director's been kind to him).

Takasugi was its weakest link, and I guess it always was going to be hard. The Benizakura arc was the first proper introduction of the complex relationship between the Joui 4 - the first time Takasugi makes a deep impression as a main antagonist, and the last time for about 400 chapters for Zura to be cool. I am completely neutral about Doumoto Tsuyoshi and about Takasugi as a character, so I'm saying this without any emotional investment. I like his voice better than Koyasu Takehito (sorry Koyasu-san...) and he pulled off the costume and appearance, which is no small feat for a purple robe with gold butterflies, but he just didn't hit the unpredictably lethal and unexpectedly sensual aura that Takasugi projects. In fact, as we were discussing after watching the movie, Yamada Takayuki, with a few weird characters under his belt, would probably have done better as Takasugi than Elizabeth. The other person I can sort of see as Takasugi would be Odagiri Joe - he was great in S~Saigo no Keikan as a cultured antagonist who came across as domineering and dangerous without raising his voice, and also oddly sexy without trying to be.

Because Takasugi never commanded much fear, as a result the climax was nowhere near as tense as the original Benizakura was. The talks about "nakama" (comrade) and "tomodachi" (friend) also didn't strike as resonant a note. I may be confusing this with later in the story, but the thing about the Takasugi-Gintoki-Katsura relationship is that they fought back to back years ago and they treasured each other as comrades and childhood friends. At this point you don't know about the mess between Gintoki and Shoyo, but it's supposed to make you wonder how good friends have turned on each other, and what's driven Takasugi to abandon his "nakama", including his cold-hearted dismissal of Okada Nizou.

The best way to think of this movie is that it's made by fans for fans, and it's achieved being loyal to Gintama's tone and story, and largely got the characters right. For that alone, I think the fans are a lot more forgiving about the flaws in its visual presentation and the weaknesses in its climatic scenes (to be fair, the climatic fight between Gintoki and Nizou was just fine). It doesn't quite get it perfect for the more moving parts of Gintama, of friendship and comradeship and reasons for living, but overall it's a respectable effort and hasn't ruined the series for me.

Maybe with that box office return, they can get a bigger budget to put together a sequel? XDD Wishful thinking.

#gintama #gintama live action #movie review #oguri shun #okada masaki #suda masaki

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sakurasakiyama · 7 years

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Hakumyu Tag Game!

It has taken me a while, but I have finally finished the questions (at this post) given to me by @allyyyyy0619! I am sorry for them being answered so late but I had to think back and re-watch a couple of them to answer the questions.

To remind everyone now, these are my opinions and everyone’s is different from my own. You can feel free to disagree with me, but no hateful comments please. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

1. Which musical was the first that you have watched? Your impressions on the overall production?

The first musical I watched from the Hakumyu brand was actually Hijikata-hen. Overall, I absolutely loved it as I have heard of the actual game (but I have never played it) and seeing this as something different from most other musicals I had seen before this. The songs were all catchy, the storyline was really great and the actors did really well and it was good to see a few familiar faces when watching it for the first time.

2. Which musical is your favourite in terms of the song performances and why?

My favourite musical for the song performances…That one is a tough one to answer as they all have their low and high points. But if I have to choose, it would be Hijikata-hen for me as it was the first one I had seen and the songs just blew me away.

3. Which musical is your favourite in terms of the storyline and why?

My favourite when it comes to the storyline is Okita-hen. Although it was played by Hirose Daisuke which is one of the many actors I like. Okita Souji is someone different as he became ill throughout his time during the Shinsengumi and he wanted to keep it a secret until Chizuru found out. And to have that moment at the end when he finally falls for her makes it all worthwhile. I haven’t seen Harada-hen’s storyline yet, but as others do upload little snips of it, it looks really interesting!

4. Which musical is your least favourite in terms of the song performances and why?

I don’t think any of them I have watched so far don’t have any song performances I didn’t like. They were fun to watch and listen to and they match with the situations that are happening.

5. Which musical is your least favourite in terms of the storyline and why?

Least favourite in terms of the storyline…there are actually none that I didn’t like. They basically follow the same routes and end up falling for Chizuru (from what I have seen but it might be different for the others), so I don’t have a least favourite.

6. The musical that you didn’t initially love, but has/have grown on you?

The one that I didn’t love in the beginning was Toudou-hen. For some reason, when I watched it, it seemed different form the others. But then when I watched it again I loved it. Toudou can kind of be seen as a minor character in some of the other musicals, but when he got his own I was surprised, but you could see that even Toudou could fall for Chizuru, even though he would barely get any lines in the musicals beforehand. (As I will say, I haven’t seen them all so he might have more lines in the other musicals than from what I can remember)

7. Original or latest casts?

The original cast will always have a place in my heart as they made Hakumyu real to me. And from the first time I watched it, I knew that this Hakuouki project was something not wasted. I have seen the action of the latest casts and they have taken on well what the originals have left for them and have kept on going. So, this one is an undecided as I like them both.

8. Live 1 or Live 2?

I have seen both lives and this one is an undecided. That is because they both have their strong points and weak points but I do love them both equally. And the Lives signify that both old and new casts have had one live each and have performed to the best of their own abilities as their characters.

9. Favourite actors/characters?

My favourite actor/character would have to be Hirose Daisuke, Mikata Ryosuke, Aramaki Yoshihiko and Higarashi Keisuke from the top of my head to name a few. They all played their characters well and were serious when needed be, which made me like their characters (and Okita more as Daisuke and Yoshihiko play the same character).

10. Actor/actress whom you think has the best vocal skills?

The best vocal skills…they all have their highs and lows when it comes to singing so I can’t choose one at this current time.

11. Actor/actress whom you think did the best in bringing out the character into life

If I have to say, they all did the best making their characters come to life. And the new cast have continued to improve on those characters the old cast left for them.

12. Hijikata, Souji, Saito or Harada, Shinpachi, Heisuke?

I love them all, but I will have to pick Souji.

13. Favourite minor character?

My favourite minor character would have to be Sannan-san. When I first saw this character played by Mikata Ryosuke (from the original cast), he is basically a mad scientist that can give them infinite life, at the cost of becoming a crazy, uncontrollable demon (as well as himself).

14. Favourite Shinsengumi member?

My favourite Shinsengumi member would have to be Toudou and Souji. I like Toudou as he likes to play around sometimes but when he has to be serious, he will be. I also like Souji as he hides his emotions and just does his job as a member. Even when he becomes terminally ill, he still tries to act tough and hide his pain so he can fight alongside his friends which are like his family.

15. Favourite demon character?

My favourite demon character would have to be Kazama Chikage. When I first saw him come onto the stage, he was actually serious about taking Chizuru with him as she is obviously the exact same as him. The clothing Chikage wears is actually quite old fashioned but goes with how it would have looked like during that time frame. There could be more to say about him, but I will leave it at that (^_^)

16. Favourite Chizuru?

My favourite Chizuru would have to be Kikuchi Mika. She has a really good voice and you can feel the emotions that Chizuru would have felt for the Shinsengumi group within the game (and the little anime series).

17. The actors/characters that you didn’t initially love, but has/have grown on you?

I love all of them. I have not disliked any of them so far and I don’t plan on doing that any time soon.

18. Least favourite actors/characters? Why?

I don’t have a least favourite actor at this current moment. They all find a way to create their characters and can display them to the best of their current acting abilities.

19. Favourite solo song?

Favourite solo song would have to be Sannan-san’s solo (from the old cast, I can’t remember the name of it). He just becomes so serious and Ryosuke is a really good singer. Even when he changes into a demon during the song (due to being injured during their previous battle) and it shows the strength what becoming a demon is like and what it can do. Overall, I just love the song in general.

20. Favourite duet?

I do like Chizuru and Okita’s duet, but the one that tops the list is Chizuru and Hijikata’s duet at the end of Hijikata-hen. When listening to this song, you could feel the acting quality they had as they had to kiss each other at the end of the song. And you’re able to see the love and emotion Hijikata and Chizuru would have had in the game (if it is…I haven’t played it yet).

21. Favourite group song?

My favourite group song would have to be Yaisa! I don’t think I need to explain why, but I will. Yaisa is my favourite group song because it allows the cast to come together at the beginning and at the end of the show before they separate and become their characters who like/dislike each other. Yaisa is basically a song of unity to me (>v<)

22. Which Yaisa! is the best?

I do love the original Yaisa the most as when I first heard it, it gave me goose bumps and I was surprised at the manliness, yet harmony they gave when singing it. Which made me believe that they did feel like a group, they felt like a family just like how the Shinsengumi were.

23. The songs that you didn’t initially love, but has/have grown on you?

There weren’t any songs I didn’t like. I loved them all!

24. Which production are you most looking forward to?

As far as I know, there have been no announcements for a new Hakuouki after Harada-hen, but if there is one in the future, I will be looking forward to it!

25. What does hakumyu means to you?

What Hakumyu means to me is that it gives the chance for actors to play fictional characters but use the real names of the group that changed Japan history and is loved by many to this day. The characters to me are all wonderful old or new, and they have the chance to make the character their own and experience some of the things that might have happened to them. It gives actors the chance to see what it would have been like for the Shinsengumi to fight during those times and the battles they faced until it all came to an end. This Hakuouki Musical Project truly means that everyone has the opportunity to make their own history.

#hakumyu #hakuouki #musical #tag game

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englishbad · 7 years

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Phases: Chapter 1

Phases ( AO3 | FF.net ) Status: In Progress Rating: T-> M (Future chapters) Main Characters: Kagura, Sougo Okita Word Count: 2,747 words Summary: Okita has an alcohol problem and doesn't realize the damage he has done until it's too late. Losing friends, his job, and shattering a girl's world. Can he overcome his abuse?

Chapter 1: The Next Day

Okita woke up to the chatter and marching footsteps outside of his door.

His body was heavy, but he needed to take a piss, badly.

“What happened last night?” Letting out a sigh.

He rolled over to see it was already 7:40.

“Fuck.” He had some difficultly to get up from his futon. Rolling off the mattress, pushing himself off up, only to fall on his butt again.

He still had his uniform on.

That moment he realized he had too much to drink the night before, again.

He smelled his shirt, reeking of mixed alcohols. Okita stripped down to his underwear finding the closest clean clothes to wear before he can go use the restroom and prepare for the day.

He slid the door open with the surprise of his men heading down the hall. They saluted him, “Good morning, Captain Okita!”

“M-Morning.” He squinted, slowly adjusting to the lights as he swayed on his way to the bathroom.

It was 7:59.

Toshirou Hijikata slipped into his seat next to Isao Kondo just in time for the daily brief. He cleared his throat, starting the meeting.

“I will make this quick. Read the tasks for today.” He held up a piece of paper with an agenda. “Sougo,” He caught the man’s attention, raising a brow upon hearing his name. “Lead the men out for sortie.”

The vice-commander got up from his seat, “Dismissed.” shooing the squad to leave. He made his way out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

The men in gold and black began their chatter, “I heard the vice-commander got laid last night!”

“I heard she’s still in his room!” Another mentioned.

“That’s unlike Hijikata-san to bring women back to headquarters.” Okita glanced over to Kondo with tired eyes, fighting his hangover.

“He must really like this woman. Best give him some privacy. You never know, you might end up calling her the Second Lady of the Shinsengumi soon.” The older man gave a hearty laugh, patting the young man’s back.

Okita winced, covering his ears. Kondo was always cheerful in the morning, but every whisper in the room was giving him a headache. He groaned, using his sword to help him off the ground.

He sluggishly headed out to the main entrance to meet the squads.

Okita caught a glimpse of the vice-commander escorting the woman into the squad car. She had his jacket over her head hiding herself.

Hijikata stepped into the car, quickly driving off.

The men were very curious to who the mystery woman was, and why she was so secretive.

“She must be a big deal if she had to conceal herself.”

“Maybe she’s a celebrity!”

“No way, why would a celebrity associate with us country samurai?”

“The vice-commander is a good looking fellow.”

“You’ve got some type of crush on the vice-commander?”

“He’s better looking than you, ass-chin!”

A fight spurted amongst the Shinsengumi members with some punching of faces.

“So noisy!” Okita shouted pacing in front of the squads as they hastily lined up. “All divisions are to patrol the defined areas on Hijikata-san’s agenda, in exception of division six for cleanup duty.” He gave a half-assed speech, wanting to get just some shut-eye.

The others marched to their captains’ orders as division six sighed in defeat. Okita ordered his own men to patrol the south side of Kabuki district without him.

Okita sat on the step, taking out his infamous eye mask, ready to fall asleep against the pillar.

“Sougo.” Kondo stood next to him. “I know it was a wild night, but I need all men out of the compound today, Pops will be coming over as soon as Toshi comes back from his errand.”

Okita sighed, “Yeah, yeah, I’m leaving.” He headed out to the gate, waving the Commander with his backhand.

Everywhere Okita went was too loud and distracting. He found a quiet bench in front of a snack bar and laid down, just as he put on his mask, he heard his name.

He sat up seeing one of the Odd Jobs members, Shinpachi walk over to him.

“Good morning, Okita-san. Are you here on duty?” He asked.

“Something like that. What’s your business here?”

“A client believes her husband has been embezzling their funds with an investor friend. Gin-san is undercover right now.”

Okita yawned and flicked his sword away from the sheath, “I can help you deal with it now if ya want.”

Shinpachi crossed his arms into an x, “No, no, there’s no need for that! Just, listen.” He pushed up his glasses. “I think Kagura is really upset for something you did last night.”

Okita looked into the distance seeing the China girl. Her hair up in buns, wearing her typical red Chinese top and black ankle pants. One of her many Odd Jobs outfits.

They briefly made eye contact, only to quickly turn her back away from the men, hearing a clear “Hmph”.

He smirked.

“She cursed your name in the morning.” Shinpachi said.

Okita’s smile widened.

“It’s nice to know you’re thinking about me, China!” He yelled out to her. However, he hasn’t had the faintest clue what happened the night before.

Kagura did not move from her spot. Her arm started to move, flipping the captain off.

Over the years with their constant fights, Okita grew fond of his rival, in personality and appearance. Of course, he didn’t want to rock the boat with the relationship they had. He was content with their fights and petty arguments. To do something out of character such as confessing that he wanted to take it to the next level was something he thought about, but never acted upon it. As if he would be the one to tell Kagura the puberty hit her like a truck and has a really nice set of tits, but no; he would never tell her that. Men are prideful creatures.

Okita craned his head to Shinpachi, “She’ll get over it. She always does.”

They heard footsteps coming down the staircase. It was Gintoki in a disguise, wearing a black wig and a large scar on his face in a pin striped western suit. He gathered his employees to debrief. The Odd Jobs owner gave the officer a nod, acknowledging his presence before walking off with his colleagues.

Okita settled back to his position about to sleep, feeling the vibration in his pocket. It was Yamazaki on the line asking for back up at his location. The officer had no choice but to put his nap on hold, sighing to head over to the spy’s rendezvous point.

When Kagura turned 20, she decided to take a part-time job at bar as a hostess to make certain ends meet when things were slow at Odd Jobs. It just so happened the Shinsengumi frequently love to drink at that bar where she worked.

As the police force grew, celebrations were happening much more, that included new recruits, birthdays, and finished cases. She grown accustomed to the obnoxious customers, but it was always fun to see how much she can rack up the most tips and pay for the most expensive liquor at the bar, especially when it came down to the Shinsengumi. She thought of it as getting back the money that the “tax robbers” stole from its citizens.

Oddly enough, a certain captain of the special police squad never once was her customer. He always watched from the side, glancing occasionally to see what customer was with her, usually taking a shot or a sip of whatever was in his hands after. If it was not Kondo trying to bribe Kagura to put in a good word for him to Tae, it was some man with a fetish, for her red hair or someone with a Chinese outfit fetish. Kagura would have some satisfaction making him jealous.

She never understood why men were such cowards, it was obvious that he liked her, and she knew it. Why can’t he just ask her out already or at least give an indication of interest rather than calling her names and instigating a fight? She always took to heart the advice from Tae, that men should take the lead in courting the girl. But, men like assertive woman right? No, no, no, it just meant the man was spineless and the woman wore the pants in the relationship and he would dump her immediately because of that reason. Damnit, being a girl is hard.

She got ready for work, letting her hair down and one of her hair covers on the right side, wearing her long red cap sleeve cheongsam with yellow piping. She left the Odd Jobs in a rush, forgetting her parasol to begin her night shift.

The clouds above her became more dark and gray. Kagura began to regret her decision not bringing her purple parasol, feeling a few drops on her head.

A man rushed to her direction, bumping into her shoulder hard as her hair bun cover fell off. She looked back seeing an injured captain was the one who almost knocked her off her tracks.

“Sadist?” Kagura sneered at him watching him hide in the dark alleyway.

“Ugh, not you, not right now.” Okita held his arm. Blood was visibly running off between his fingers.

“You ass, I’m going to be late for work!” Balling her fist at him.

“Are you trying to get me killed?” That was an understatement.

A dozen of men armed with weapons rushed pass her. “Hey, are you looking that stupid Shinsengu—” His hand muffled her mouth, dragging her into the alley.

“You’re so damn loud.” His voice was slightly raised higher than a whisper.

Kagura pushed his hand off from her mouth.

The blonde captain was disheveled. He leaned his head back against the building, panting.

“What happened to you?” Sounding more pissed than concerned.

“Like it matters to you.” Okita peeked into the street, finding signs of the men, “They shot me.”

“Too bad they missed. They should have aimed for your chest instead.”

He deadpanned, pulling her cheek.

“Ow, ow, ow, what that hell?” She exclaimed. As she finished, a clap of thunder echoed through the sky following a downpour.

“I heard something over there!” A man’s voice yelled at their direction.

Okita put his hand over her mouth. Kagura shoved his hands away becoming agitated every minute she was with him.

He pulled her in close to his chest, burying her face into him just to keep her voice low, “Shut up will you.”

Okita pulled the side of his coat over her body, “The hell you think you’re doing?” She looked up at him, watching the droplets run down his face.

“You’re so pale that your skin practically glows in the dark.” He spoke down to her. “If they see us, I’ll end up doing more work than I want to. I really don’t wanna deal with Hijikata right now.”

Kagura huffed, rolling her eyes, reluctantly obeying.

He kept an eye on the men looking for them. As he heard voices from the side streets, he pulled her closer into him.

He was warm.

Okita’s shirt made it feel almost it was skin to skin to her. She could hear his heartbeat, feel him respiring against her, it was strangely soothing. This is what it feels like to be close to him. No fighting, no arguing, just comfort and pleasant silence.

“We’ll split up, you take this side and we’ll go to that street. Find that damn Shinsengumi brat.” One of the men ordered. The captain watched as they scattered to different directions, missing the alley.

He sighed in relief, dropping his arm from her head, letting his part of his coat uncover her. He gulped, breathing heavy again, taking a few seconds to rest from the stinging of his arm.

Okita realized she was still on him. “China, you can get off me now.”

There was no response.

“Hey, you deaf?” Nudging her from the side, again no response.

The captain felt her breathing heavy against him. He moved her away from his chest as her bangs shadowed her face.

“Hey, China…” Okita reached over her head with his hand, fingers surfacing her hair.

He paused, thinking she hasn’t acted viciously yet.

He continued brushing Kagura’s bangs aside with his fingers, gliding her hair behind her ear.

Those cerulean eyes of hers, locked into his own crimson eyes. He never seen her so fixated. Her lips were slightly parted as drops ran down her porcelain skin.

The rain continued to fall onto the ground as the sound of the water became louder.

He kept his hand on her face, looking deep into those eyes of hers closely for the first time.

Perhaps it was the blood loss talking. However, the very same girl he has fought for years had the most amazing eyes.

He stroked his thumb against her cheek, feeling the goosebumps rising on her face. Was this the moment he would cross the line of their rivalry?

Kagura opened her mouth to speak, even before a syllable left her mouth…

Okita leaned in to captivate those lips of hers.

He moved in closer to her parting her lips with his for a deeper kiss. Her lips were soft, the taste of her strawberry lip balm made it even more enjoyable.

He pulled apart looking for a reaction. Anything would do.

Her eyes darted from his half-lidded eyes to his mouth to his eyes again. Was…was that not good? As panic filled his head. She arched her feet up his height, closing her eyes, returning the kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck to keep him close.

His body felt numb as if a bullet wasn’t embedded in his arm. He pulled her in with his arms around her back, arching her up, for a more intimate contact.

Lips broke apart, both gasping, nose-to-nose looking at each other with a smitten smile written on their faces.

Kagura blinked, pulling herself back from him. She held onto his forearms, feeling her legs become tingly and unresponsive.

Okita chuckled.

“I-I… late for work.” She said, not long after stumbling on her feet, catching her fall. She composed herself, “I-I have to go.” Shutting her eyes tightly before running away.

He watched her leave as his mind was calibrating what just happened. His mouth was agape in disbelief.

He crossed that line.

He replayed the events in his mind. She must have enjoyed it too, right? That kiss wasn’t an ordinary kiss; to share a mind-blowing kiss enough to fall to her knees was a rarity for anyone.

A vibration came from his pocket snapping him out of thoughts.

He answered the phone.

“Captain Okita, where are you? We’ve lost track of the rebels!” Yamazaki voice cracked.

“I lost them too.” Reality set in as his arm began to sting again. “I’m going to see a medic, I’m injured.”

“C-Capta—” He cut him off, flipping down the top of his phone.

Okita rummaged through his coat pocket, finding his flask, removing the cap with his teeth. He spit the cap on the ground, taking a swig of the alcohol before emptying the contents, throwing it onto his wound.

It was going to be a long night. He knew should have just stayed at that bench to sleep.

Author’s Notes: “…If you think things are bad now, things are going to get a lot worse.” - Gintoki

From the merchandise it looks like Okita is a happy drunk, may be a brash drunk. So how about messy, angry, drunk?

Anyway, this took me a lot longer to write where I sat in front of the screen looking at the document blankly. I wrote this weeks ago hesitating whether I should even publish it, but I made his far so, what the hell.

That it wasn’t “The Notebook” type of kiss I wanted, and I thought long and hard how to compose it. (I’ve never read The Notebook or watched the movie.) I think kissing in the rain romantic and sad at the same time.

This story is surprisingly one of the shorter parts that I have written, and it’s not going to be filled with humor and sticking true to the Gintama feel. But at least try to enjoy it as much you can.¯\_(ツ)_/¯

#gintama #gintama fanfiction #gintama fanfic #kagura #okita sougo #Works:Sabichu/Englishbad #angst #drama #kiss

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