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.....

People spinning midair. Lions behaving like cats. Swords being swallowed like wee pretzels.

He fought robots, creatures with antennas on their heads, even idiots that carry parasols while avoiding broad daylight. But Hijikata Toushirou still found himself standing with his mouth agape while witnessing the performance progressing beyond the wooden divider.

Meanwhile, his guide, the bar worker [Male Name] was more open with his reactions. Joining the crowd, he yelled beyond his lung capacity, cheering and whoaing at every stunt he found deserving - which was everything.

After a bearded lady had everyone on their feet after a spectacular musical number, all cast returned on the ring for one last spectacle. Just as how they did at the start of the show, everyone in sight of the raven-haired male had joined in and had fun, clapping and stomping at the beat of the closing anthem.

"It was amazing!" [Male Name] was yet to move on from the performance. "I'm really glad Mama allowed me to watch before going back to reality. What do you think, Touji-san?"

"It was worth the time," he spoke genuinely. "Perhaps, I'll try going back next time."

The male failed to see it, but a faint of a smile ran on his guide's radiant face.

Both were already on their way back to the bar after going out of the tent. Upon stepping into Mama's domain, [Male Name] was immediately welcomed by the one and only Goddess of Poison.

"The special guest just arrived. Better start working."

[Male Name] shined at the news. "Touji-san, excuse me while I start with my work."

"Don't mind me. Just go."

[Male Name] then excused himself from Toushirou and Mama, but when he was about to turn to a corner, the undercover policeman called out to the other male.

"Thanks for bringing me there."

Another smile ran across [Male Name]'s [Skin Tone] complexion. "Don't mention it. Glad I can help." And he was off.

Mama escorted the male to a spot near the displayed drinks in the bar he was manning.

It has been some time since the male puffed one stick, so, without a second thought, he fished out his box of cigarettes from his yukata.

Despite his deadpan expression, he was quite perplexed about one thing. [Male Name] personally attending to a guest. A special guest, as what Mama mentioned. Is he perhaps doing those services? That innocent-looking, childlike grown man?

He knew quite well that it wasn't his business what other people did with their lives. But the thought of [Male Name] red with liquor and undressed suddenly filled his head.

And he had no idea if he hated it or not.

"Don't worry, Toshi," interrupted Mama. "[Male Name]'s just talking with the special guest."

"H-Huh? What do you mean?"

"It's written all over your face, sweetie," claimed the muscled crossdresser in a matter-of-fact tone. "You were quite curious of how [Male Name] caters to the guest."

"W-What are you talking about?" He tried to look away. "What he does it none of my concern."

"True, but since you've been here six days ago, it's quite weird that you and [Male Name] were getting closer faster than expected. You guys do look like you're of the same age group, but, of course, there's that kid's bubbly personality."

"The guy's a grown man. Why still call him a kid."

"Everyone here is kid to my eyes," giggled the male. "As their Mama, I have to show kindness and treat them with love."

Toushirou huffed out smoke. "Well," he tapped his stick on a nearby ashtray. "He is not as overbearing as someone I know. I can get used to his presence."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Mama and Toushirou ended up immersing themselves into more conversations while people came and went into the place. The other staff had their hands full with the volume of customers, a lot of them requesting one drink after the other.

The momentum they had was only displaced the moment screams and sounds of a thousand running feet echoed from outside.

Suddenly, the door of the gay bar opened with a bang. A panting male then rushed to where the barkeeper was.

"Mama! They're back! And there are more of them!"

Mama immediately crashed. In an instant, he requested a nearby staff to ring someone he called Harumide before rushing out of the bar. Thinking this was what [Male Name] and Mama was referring to earlier that day, Toushirou followed the Goddess, slightly regretting that his sword was left behind at HQ.

He did bring his ID so it could be enough.

Outside, a stream of people running from the square was making it hard for both Toushirou and Mama to head to the scene of the problem. Pushing themselves against the crowd, they finally arrived at the area, only to see circus performers on the ground. Some had their hands on their heads, others wrapped theirs with cloth, red stains visible on them.

Inside, there were already those completely knocked out, lying on the floor. Meanwhile, on the far side, men in yukata formed a wall, blocking Mama's and Toushirou's sight. Some had objects on their hands. There were bats, strips of wood, and even unsheathed katana. 

"What's the meaning of this?" Mama was furious. Toushirou was just as agitated, but he had to control himself.

"Oh, look." From the men, someone emerged. "It's one of those disgusting excuse for a goddess."

"You again?!"

"I warned you that I'd be back if this freak of a show returns. You got the nerve to parade disfigured monsters here in Edo." The man swung his blunt object over his shoulder. "Perhaps your brain's full of makeup that you didn't understand, so we'll do it ourselves."

"Mama," Toushirou was quite confused. "What's going on here?"

"That guy was the one who assaulted the performers last time." Dark blue orbs then trailed to the man with a smug face. "It's his fault that the circus had to take a break for weeks."

The man with the bat then noticed the policeman. "Oh, wow. Guess who's here?"

Toushirou shot up at the remark.

"Is that your new sucker, drag man?" Mama just got more furious.

Luckily for the policeman, his cover wasn't blown.

"Stand aside, Toushi," Mama pulled the male behind him. "You got the gall to actually assault the performers."

"Of course, I do."

With a snap of a finger, all the men behind the man stepped aside, revealing what was behind them.

The beaten up ringmaster. Beside him were the bearded lady and the elephant tamer. Both also covered with blood in pats of their bodies.

Mama's face then contorted, anger etched in detail.

"How dare you do that to my family!?" The enraged man, fuming, took a step forward, ready to swing a punch on the weaponed men. But one hand grabbed Mama by the shoulder, stoppi ng him instantly. It was Toushirou.

"Mama, hang on. You'll be playing on their hands."

The mob leader then let laughter escape his lips, fueling the crossdresser's anger more.

"Though I think this behind me is not enough. Perhaps educating one of the Ugly Trinity will get our point across."

As the leader gave a signal, the men began to circle the two. With the weaponed men closing in on them, Mama stood firm, slightly regaining composure.

"You're a hundred years too early to even raise a finger on me, boy."

Then, one by one, bats, wood, and other blunt objects were raised. In an instant, the first swing was made.

Toushirou was fairing well. Though hit at some places and without a sword, he was holding his ground very nicely, responding with his own jabs and blows to those who landed a hit on him. And when one attacker swung his unsheathed sword, right here and then, the policeman found his chance. He charged without skipping a beat, catching the assailant off-guard, and punched the gut, sending the victim immediately to his knees and dropping his weapon. The policeman instantly grabbed it, held it in front of him, and began his rampage.

Meanwhile, Mama wasn't doing any worse. Using his palms, every bat and metal pipe swung at him were deflected. A single hit was yet to land on him.

The leader of the men was starting to tremble, fear beginning to emerge on his face. Then, more men appeared from the opening on their side of the tent.

They weren't backup. With their faces screaming terror, they were running away from something.

"They're here!" Cried one man. "There's a lot of them out there! And one of the Three Goddesses is with them."

Harumide, Mama thought, mentally elated that the person in charge of security finally appeared.

"What are you idiots scared of!? They can't beat us! They're inexperienced drag queens! We're samurai! Teach 'em a lesson!"

Convinced by their leader, those who just entered divided. Others went out again, ready to pummel. Some reinforced those attacking Toushirou amd Mama.

Though it didn't really help the situation. Still with the sword unsheathed, the Demon Vice Chief easily knocked all opponents near him unconscious. Mama, on the other hand, decided to go on the offensive, forcefully thrusting his palms upwards to his opponents' chins, instantly knocking them on the ground while pain on their jaw did all the damage.

It didn't take a while before the last ones standing inside the tent were Toushirou, Mama, and the mob leader. Frightened for his life, the last boss turned around to run, only for his escape route to be blocked by someone with a neatly arranged pink hair wearing a tight red outfit and holding a black whip on one hand.

"I-It's ugly number two."

"For your information, I'm the most beautiful Goddess here." Harumide corrected while cracking the whip on the ground. "Now then, shall I give you your punishment, boy?"

Trapped, the mob leader was taking steps backward, closer to where Mama and Toushirou stood.

At the other entrance, a figure emerged. It was unnoticed until it spoke.

"Mama, Touji-san, are you two all right?" It was [Male Name].

Toushirou and Mama glanced at the newcomer, smiling at him despite feeling slightly tired. On the one hand, the mob leader saw a chance. Seeing the newcomer as not as challenging as the others, he rushed to the unsuspecting male and grabbed him by the shoulder, surprising the two Goddesses and Toushirou.

Without skipping a beat, the captor took out a pocket knife and pointed it on the victim's neck. At that point, [Male Name] was frozen in fear.

"Stand back," he warned, clearly displaying the knife on the male's neck for the others to see. "How dare you all humiliate me. Wait 'till my brother finds out about this. His a high-ranking bakufu official. This place will be levelled in no time once he knows what you did to me."

"[M-Male Name]!" Shouted Mama and Harumide in unison.

"Don't you dare harm him!"

The captor then snuck a meniacal laughter, raising the tension in the atmosphere. "Then let me get out of this dump. Your pretty boy won't be harmed. Seriously."

"Don't you da- [Male Name]!"

The knife was pressed onto the poor male's skin, not enough to puncture but enough to incite pain.

"Send out a car that I can use outside. Now!"

Harumide was clenching his teeth in anger while Mama almost got out of his skin, obviously frightened for his staff. Toushirou, on the other hand, was lost in thought.

If he exposed himself, he could persuade the suspect to surrender. However, the suspect is related to a bakufu official, probably the same one who chewed him out. It may not really help the situation. It can make it worse.

However, he didn't have it in him to stand and watch anymore. As a policeman, it was his job to protect Edo and its citizens. The cons clearly outweighed the pros, but there was a miniscule chance.

He decided to gamble.

"Hang on," he finally spoke, slowly fishing out his badge from his yukata. As he took it out, he quickly flashed it to the captor. "I'm a police. What you're doing is clearly kidnapping. Drop the weapon and we can lower the charges."

"A police, hah! In that case, arrest them!" He pointed at the Goddesses. "They're clearly criminals. Displaying such vulgar scenes and displays out for the world to see. They should be in jail."

Toushirou glanced at the male beside him. "I can't see why I should do that. This circus was nothing more but entertainment for people in these parts. I didn't see anything violating the law."

"Are you blind? A woman with a forest growing on her face, a full-grown man the size of a seven-year-old, and jugglers that twist their torsos and legs like rope. These guys are destroying decency. They clearly need to be shut indoors. Society doesn't need these freaks!"

"Then, let me ask you something. Would it be better for our society to have egotistical, selfish, judgmental power hogs that discriminate against innocent, hard-working civilians who just happened to look different from what we'd normally see? 'Cause if it is, then, I got my work cut out for me."

Toushirou needed to finish everything faster. [Male Name] was still on the mercy of the hostage taker. And with the perpetrator now more fidgety than previously, he needed to act. Quickly.

"Where's my car, damn it!?"

Another shrieking erupted, this time from Mama who was shaking on his feet. "D-Don't harm him!"

"Come closer and I will! You there!" The man pointed his knife at Harumide. "Remove whoever are outside! And where's my car!?"

"I-It's coming already," the male clenched his teeth. "Just don't harm him."

Trying to get away, the paranoid male walked out to the streets, [Male Name] still caged in his arms. Outside the tent was clear with people. The performers previously lying about were now elsewhere, probably thanks to Harumide. 

Toushirou, Mama, and Harumide followed out, seeing the crazed fruit loop shake on his feet while still holding [Male Name] was enough to send them into panic, though Toushirou and Harumide were more capable of masking it, unlike the third one. 

Within seconds, a car arrived on the scene. The driver quickly fled, leaving the keys attached in the vehicle, allowing [Male Name]'s captor to proceed with his plan. He first pushed [Male Name] into the passenger seat, threatening him to not escape. He then ran to the driver seat and started the engine, leaving horrified faces in its path. 

"We should go after them!" Shouted the police, fishing out his phone from his clothes. "I'll contact the others-"

"No need," interrupted Mama who was now more relaxed, a complete opposite from earlier. "Don't think they can get away that easily."

"What do you mean?"

"This is Ni-chome." Responded Harumide. "Haku will finish it from here."

"No one's harming [Male Name] and gets away with it as long as we're alive."

While speeding down the road, unknown to the driver, several men already lined up on the top of building along the way. Each holding sniper rifles of high calibre, they positioned themselves into the shadows, eyes trailing onto the moving car. 

And, in a few seconds, a shot was fired. Due to a silencer attached, no noise was made, but the damage was clearly visible. One of the tires in the rear end burst open, completely sending the car driver and its passenger into a frenzy. Immediately, a second bullet followed, now aimed at the remaining rear tire. 

Now completely disarrayed, the car came to a complete halt, luckily not crashing into a nearby establishment. The driver came out of the car, completely dizzy and disorganised. Not caring about his hostage anymore, he continued on foot, only to fall onto the ground when a sudden impact popped his right leg open. 

Toushirou and the two Goddess followed the chase, only to see the car in the middle of the road and its driver lying on the ground inches away, blood oozing out from his injured leg. In an instant, the police dashed to the passenger seat, seeing [Male Name] unconscious with red liquid running down his head. 

"[Male Name]'s injured! Get an ambulance."

From behind, another male, this time, completely clad in black shirt and pants appeared, a rifle propped over his shoulder. "No need. That's just a minor bruise. We can fix that up at Mika's place."

"Haku!" The two goddesses cheered in unison. 

In the end, the perpetrator was placed behind bars. And after an interrogation spearheaded by Sougo, the government official related to the male was quickly kicked out of office for charges of inciting violence and inequality. The Three Goddesses and the members of Rainbow Realm came to the Shinsengumi HQ, bowing themselves in front of the one who settled the complicated bureaucratic issue. 

And to give Toushirou a special message. Personally. 

Queen wants to talk to you about the incident. Please come to my place after your work, Toshi. 

This was unexpected. 

The male did not expect to hear more from the leader of the Goddesses. Not wanting to insult the people of Ni-chome, he came to Poison Haven. Supposedly in his casual wear, he decided to make it an official visit, so he clad himself with his black uniform. 

He was now on the second floor of the bar, in the special room Mama reserved. There, along with him were the other two Goddesses, the Goddess of the Night, Haku, and the Goddess of Coins, Harumide. In front of him, [Male Name], the last victim of the entire ordeal, also sat, his head wrapped with bandage. But the smile on his face was still untainted. 

"How's your head, [Male Name]?"

"It's not as serious as it looks, to be honest. It was just a bruise. No need to be worried, but thanks for the concern."

"That's good to know."

Toushirou sat there along with the others after being told by Mika to wait for a few seconds. 

Perhaps, Queen is on her way. 

After a few seconds of chit-chat with the staff worker, Toushirou shot up, seeing Mama Mika now in the room.

As the Goddess of Poison closed the room, a thought flashed inside the police. 

"Where's Queen?"

"What do you mean 'where's Queen?" barked Harumide. 

"Yeah," supported Haku. "You've been talking with him this whole time."

W-Wait...

Dark blue orbs then dashed to the male sitting across the police, the beaming [Male Name]. 

"It's very different without the make-up, yes?"

Toushirou was still frozen in thought. 

"I'm sorry if I had to ask you to come here. Mama won't allow me to leave just yet, having this bandage and all," [Male Name] pouted, to which Mama simply giggled in amusement. 

"Thanks so much for assisting us and really helping us with those guys, Toushirou-san." [Male Name] uttered, completely using the police's real name instead of Touji. "I just hope that this peace would continue and the circus would no longer experience such discrimination."

"We all here at Ni-chome are different in one way or another, but, we're still human. We eat the same food you swallow and drink the same water you intake. Though we may act differently psychologically or look not the same, we are still one of you. It's just sad that people instantly judge us simply because we're not what you consider 'normal'."

"It was highly refreshing that someone with a high position didn't look at us negatively. You opened your mind for us, accepted us, and treated us like you and people you know. Thanks so much for that, Toushirou-san."

The male with bandages slowly arched his back, bowing to the policeman for everything he has done. The three people behind [Male Name] followed suit. 

"You don't need to bow, you know," Toushirou was slightly flushed. "I just did what I think is right. People are people. There will be differences. Not all people judge others. I'm just sorry that you experienced so much all this time."

[Male Name] raised his head. "No need to be sorry. It gave us strength much more than fright, after all."

"I just hope we can still be friends after all of this. Hanging out with you was very refreshing and fun, Toushirou-san."

"No problem," responded the male as he stretched out a hand. "It is fun to be friends with you, too, [Male Name]."

And [Male Name] took the hand, shaking it with a big smile on his face. While behind him, the three more muscular males were hiding their smirks and grins. 

Oh, my, [Male Name]. Good luck. 

This guy's a straight one. 

Better deal with this carefully.

.....

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