Chapter 31: Gintama (Cosmic Arc)

“How long have the Captain and the others been fighting?” a certain Night Rabbit asked Abuto beside him.

“About three hours, I think,” Abuto replied lazily.

“I never expected that girl could fight the Captain for so long. Do you think they’ll go on until morning?”

“Who knows?” Abuto answered, turning his gaze back to the arena.

The two combatants in the ring were still full of energy, trading blows from top to bottom and side to side, showing no signs of stopping. Kamui’s face was now even more swollen from Okakura Take’s relentless attacks, while Okakura Take herself was bleeding from her face, battered by Kamui. Her jacket was completely shredded, leaving her to fight in nothing but a tank top. Kamui had simply discarded his ruined cheongsam, revealing a toned chest now stamped with countless footprints from Okakura Take’s kicks, while her tank top bore numerous large imprints from Kamui’s feet.

They were evenly matched in their brutality.

Meanwhile, Coco, having been rescued by Okakura Take, was carrying Nini and finally made it out of the Black Street. She flagged down a taxi and told the driver to take them to the nearest hospital.

Inside the car, watching the groggy Nini and thinking of Okakura Take still trapped in the Black Street, Coco’s tears kept falling. It was already past midnight. Gazing at the few stars in the sky, Coco silently prayed for Okakura Take.

Take, you must be all right.

Okakura Take was sent flying by another kick from Kamui. The blood from her wounds had glued strands of hair to her face, making her feel even more miserable. Her white tank top was now a grimy gray, stained with countless drops of blood. Her whole body ached, but she still had the strength to rise. Once again, she stood before Kamui.

Through a veil of blood, her bright eyes glared fiercely at Kamui, filled with a stubbornness that refused to admit defeat.

Seeing her like this, Kamui was exhilarated. He ran the tip of his tongue over his swollen lips, savoring the metallic taste of blood that only fueled his fighting spirit.

Kamui felt he had stumbled upon an unexpected delight. Who would have thought he’d encounter such a formidable opponent on this little planet ruled by Harusame? He was delighted.

“Earth girl, do you know? I really love hand-to-hand combat. The moment I kill my enemy with my own hands and feel their hot blood splatter over me—that’s the greatest joy.” Kamui’s eyes gleamed with bloodlust as he grinned at Okakura Take. “Right now, I’m looking forward to the moment your blood spills onto me.”

“Really? What I’m hoping for is to grind your face into the ground with my shoe. I think that would be even more satisfying,” Okakura Take retorted with a smirk.

“Seems like we share the same goal.”

“Exactly. We both want to defeat each other, don’t we?”

After fighting Kamui for so long, Okakura Take felt a wild exhilaration stirring within her—a passion for battle, and an indescribable protective instinct. It was the responsibility of the Ghost Relic Clan’s chief to protect her weaker tribesmen, a duty passed down through generations. This quiet voice from her blood, from her very soul, would not let her fall before any enemy.

And now, she was determined not to lose to Kamui.

But just then, a sudden rush of warmth gushed from beneath her, and a dull ache bloomed in her lower abdomen. The pain turned her face ashen. Clutching her stomach, she collapsed.

Seeing Okakura Take suddenly fall, Kamui was startled. He walked over, poked her, and asked, “Earth girl, what’s wrong?”

The spasms in her abdomen were so intense she could barely speak. The pain inside was far worse than any wound Kamui had dealt her.

“Did you eat something bad and need to go to the bathroom? That’s fine, I can wait until you’re done and we can continue,” Kamui said, surprisingly accommodating. He didn’t want the fight to end for such a reason.

“It’s just stomach pain, you idiot!” Okakura Take wailed, clutching her belly. At this moment, everyone around her was an enemy, yet she had fallen. She wanted to get up and send them all flying, but she had no strength left.

Watching her tremble with pain, Kamui blinked, then suddenly scooped her up in his arms—a princess carry.

“What are you doing?” Okakura Take asked weakly.

“I really enjoyed fighting you. Let’s postpone our duel for another time. I can’t help it; I’m the type who likes to save the best for last,” Kamui said, bringing his face close to hers. “You’ll get even stronger, won’t you?”

“Of course. One day I’ll be strong enough to grind you under my heel!” Okakura Take glared at him.

“That’s good. If you don’t, I’ll kill you,” Kamui replied with a smile.

“Hmph.”

Kamui carried Okakura Take back to the stands, where the onlookers gathered around.

“Captain, what happened to her?” Abuto asked, giving Okakura Take a once-over.

“I have no idea,” Kamui replied, handing Okakura Take over to Abuto. “She’s your responsibility now. I’m going to take a shower.”

And with that, Kamui swaggered away, leaving Abuto with his usual dead-fish eyes staring at the writhing Okakura Take.

Sighing, Abuto muttered to himself about his capricious captain always dumping the aftermath on him. He turned to Gutillo. “Find a clean room and get a doctor.”

Gutillo nodded enthusiastically. He was relieved that Kamui and Okakura Take had finally stopped fighting; any longer and they’d have demolished his expensive arena.

“Right away, I’ll get her a room and a doctor. Please, follow me, Mr. Abuto.”

In the corridor, Kamui—bare-chested and covered in blood—frightened a number of maids. Whenever they saw him, they shrieked. Ignoring their screams, Kamui grabbed one at random. “Take me to a room.”

The maid shivered in his grasp, then stammered, “Y-yes, sir, right away.” After showing Kamui to a room, she hurried off.

Kamui threw off his pants and entered the bathroom. The bright mirror reflected his battered state: bruised and swollen cheeks, dark and puffy eyes like a goldfish, and countless marks across his chest—Okakura Take’s handiwork.

Yet, Kamui grinned at his reflection. He recalled Okakura Take’s condition—not much better than his own, as he’d beaten her thoroughly too. Kamui was satisfied. “A girl from Earth… how interesting.”

Soon, the sound of water and Kamui’s cheerful whistling echoed from the bathroom.

After washing up and putting himself in order, Kamui—now refreshed—had someone guide him to Abuto and Okakura Take.

Inside the room, Okakura Take’s face was clean of blood, but the wounds left by Kamui were still fresh and swollen, her small face covered in bandages and plasters. Her eyes were swollen like a goldfish’s, and her body, having taken the brunt of Kamui’s blows, was wrapped in bandages as well.

But none of this was as unbearable as the cramps in her abdomen and the humiliation of having collapsed before Kamui—her enemy—and being spared. The shame of falling before her foe stung more than any injury.

“Captain, you recover really fast,” Abuto remarked, looking from Kamui to Okakura Take. Both had started with similar injuries, but the Night Rabbits healed absurdly quickly. Kamui’s pig-headed face was already on the mend, while Okakura Take’s was still swollen.

Comparing faces could really kill one with envy.

“How is she?” Kamui asked, glancing at Okakura Take.

“You really didn’t hold back, Captain. You broke several of her ribs. The rest isn’t too bad, but she keeps complaining about stomach pain. Even the doctor doesn’t know why—he’s gone to check his references,” Abuto explained just as the doctor arrived.

The doctor was a Kurota alien, middle-aged and male. He held a laptop, looking utterly shocked. “Amazing, absolutely amazing.” Then he scrutinized Okakura Take from head to toe.

“What’s wrong?” Kamui asked curiously.

“Earth women are incredible,” the doctor began, eager to share his astonishment with Kamui. “Did you know that after reaching puberty, Earth women’s bodies start producing more estrogen, and then xxxxx…” He launched into a lengthy explanation filled with medical jargon, making Abuto’s dead-fish eyes even duller.

Crackling his knuckles, Kamui grinned and leaned in close to the doctor. “Doctor, could you put it simply?”

The doctor recoiled, wiped the sweat from his brow, and summarized. “In short, Earth women bleed for seven or eight days every month. After it’s over, they’re fine.”

At this, Kamui and Abuto both stared at Okakura Take as if she were a strange creature. Earth women, truly incredible!

After the doctor left, Abuto asked his captain, “Captain, may I go back and rest now?”

Kamui shook his head and pointed at Okakura Take on the bed. “You stay here and watch over her.”

Abuto looked as if he might split apart. He couldn’t help but ask, “Captain, what about you?”

Kamui shook his cowlick and said kindly, “I’m going back to sleep.” With that, he sauntered out, his hair bouncing.

Left behind, Abuto sighed and slumped next to Okakura Take. Looking at her sleeping face, he thought once more of his incorrigible captain. “Next time I beat him up, I’ll make sure it’s even worse!”

As for Okakura Take, already dreaming, she fulfilled Abuto’s wish—her determination to fight Kamui persisting even in sleep.

Captain, take care of yourself, and cherish your subordinates while you can.