Goodbye

I knew this was how things would end from the start. I knew there was no way Takasugi wouldn’t die. It’s a sad ending but let’s face it, we all knew it was coming and that it was probably the right way to end this masterpiece. Takasugi got all his wishes fulfilled and he was able to see his alter-ego and really, best friend, free from all shackles right at the end of his life. It was the best way for him to go—for him to be released from all the sufferings the students had gone through to live this far. It was a tragic, but the most beautiful end to the life of Takasugi.

And no, he didn’t make Gintoki do the same thing again. It wasn’t Gintoki that cut down sensei this time. It was Takasugi’s sword and soul that did. He saved Gintoki from bearing the burden all over again and Gintoki knows it. He won’t need to bear the burden of ending his teacher’s life to save his friends again. This time, Takasugi took it all with him as he died.

What is really heartbreaking about this chapter is that Gintoki has never cried before. He has never cried after losing his friends so far. He’s been the grown adult of Yorozuya and the guy who only faces forward and keeps on fighting. But he shed tears for the first time and it was for Takasugi, which I think was just soooo important and special. It really shows how much he cared about Takasugi, despite their bantering.