A.N.- I know how much Otae loves her Dojo and the lengths she would be willing to go to protect and maintain it, but just for the wanted effect, lets pretend she's tired of it...
They will look and sound OC at times...
Disclaimer: I have absolutely no rights what so ever over Gintama. If I did it would be crap... =D
" Shelter "
1st chapter
The shoji door leading to the backyard were open wide, the young woman was kneeling under the kotatsu inside the warm room, sipping her tea, staring outside, lost in thoughts, alone.
November has brought the cool winds, weak rains and clouded skies, she loved this greyish/silver weather, that so many people detest or considered depressive.
For her, there was nothing more relaxing than watching the rain fall on the puddles, the clouds shifting and the wind caressing her face while she was warm, safe, sheltered, comfortably in the presence of her loved ones.
' Shin-chan...' she thought sighing and longing for her little brother.
She was all alone now, her mother left them first all those years ago, then their father, and now her little brother was gone as well.
" He's 21 years old for Kami-sama's sake, a grown man " she couldn't pretend not to see it anymore.
Four months ago he came up to her and told her that for the upcoming 12 months he would be traveling. It wasn't a question, it was a statement, merely to inform her of his decision.
She blessed him with a heavy heart, and watched him leave to follow his own path, proud of the man he had become.
She was thought to be strong, fierce, she wasn't. The was simply the mask she created and wear to the whole world so she could protect that little boy, ' There was no one else to do it... ', but who would protect her?
Shinpachi came first, always first and so little by little she nullified her own dreams, desires and needs to protect the one she had left who she belong to.
All trough the years that was her " sole purpose in life... How sad can you be" along with their determination to bring back the Dojo to it's glory days, or so she made herself believe, she struggled all this time against all odds and obstacles mostly for Shin's happiness, she knew how much he truly devoted himself to the legacy they inherited.
" And now what Tae? " she asked herself bitterly, " All you have is a run down big empty house".
In the end she had succeed and that was her only consolation, her brother was a good, strong and honest young man, true to his convictions and a brave heart. And she was a lonely woman, she didn't trust people easily and was insecure, but all the others saw was an arrogant, annoying, brute, heartless woman that knew to use other for her own benefit " How lovely ".
Her life as an individual was non-existent, if Shinpachi hadn't met that parfait addict, she would most likely be ' Kami knows where... ', being explored by freaks so she could maintain the dojo, and she would for sure not know the Yorozuya nor the Shinsengumi, Otose snack and all the others.
" They're Shin-chan's friends not yours Tae! You are simply just an extra that came along in the shimura package " she said sadly, " Kyuubei and Oryo are the only two friends you've made on your own, the first got hurt protecting the one you were supposed to protect, and the other fears you more than she admires you ".
The truth was, now that there was no one to take care for and protect, no one to live for, she felt lost, out of place and she was completely, utterly, terrified with the idea, with this dred feeling that was gnawing and creeping up inside of her.
" Nobody needs someone like me... I'm useless... I can't fight even more protect " she sighed again.
The only bad thing about days like this was the crazy amount of time you have to yourself, too much time doing nothing leads to, too much time thinking that makes you take, too much time sucking and worst, too much time to be and feel lonely. " I need to get the hell away from here for a while... ".
" I could visit Kyuubei. Maybe not, she's been really busy lately " she was staring blankly at her steaming tea cup.
" Kagura-chan! Okita-kung is away in a mission, she told me herself " she thought, there was no other possibilities, she didn't want Oryo and the other girls from snack smile to know that she was lonely, that would not be good for her reputation. Otose, Tama and Catharine, well they werent that close, ' I don't want anyone to know...' Kagura was a safe choice.
Making up her mind and stealing her resolve, she got ready to leave, grabbing her favourite umbrella, she closed the gate of the dojo behind her, and set off to find kagura.
On her way, the streets were almost void of people, the rain had picked up a little and the clouds were gathering and turning a menacing dark shade. She was finally arriving at her destination, Yorozuya Gin-chan, and didn't quite notices all these changes around her.
Walking up the stairs, she stopped in front of the door, ' I haven't come here in a while... ', she knocked and got no reply, ' Maybe they're all out... ', she knocked again stronger this time, but still no answer came, " Kagura-chan are you home? ", she asked loud enough to be sure they weren't sleeping.
She was about to walk away , dismayed for not finding who she needed, when the door was open, " What do you want? I thought it was the old hag or the cat eared freak, nagging me about the rent again ", Sakata Gintoki said looking at her with his bored expression and his dead fish eyes.
" Gin-san, hisashiburi! [1]", she said happily as he turned his back on her and walked inside, " Good to see you too ", she whispered to herself following him.
" Is Kagura-chan here? I need to speak with her " she asked pointing in the direction of the closet/bedroom that belong to the young Yato.
" Nope, she left earlier saying she was visiting a friend, like she has one of those, I had to go buy strawberry milk myself ", he said from the couch where he laid on his back reading JUMP.
" I see, it must have been exhausting ", she was amused by the never ending laziness of the man, " Did she say when she would be back? " she asked a bit downcast by the perspective of going back empty handed.
" Do I look like a mother to you! Do I have wrinkles and flaccid breasts? No. " he grambled " Don't know when or If she'll be back, kids these days don't care about anything but themselves " he added trying to sound hurtful.
" Ara, you sounded like a parents right now Gin-san " she mocked him, with her usual smile and hand to the face.
" Oi. Are you cursing me, Gin-chan is very young to be someone's parent " he retorted, " How's Patsuan doing? " he asked after a short silence.
" Worried about your eldest too, My My. " she teased him a little more. " He sends a letter every month, he says that he's enjoying it and having a good time " she answered when he evil side glanced at her.
" Good for him, he can finally grow a pair of nuts and became a full fledged man " he stated, " How about you? Haven't seen you since he left ". He bluntly asked never taking his eyes of the precious magazine.
" M-Me? " she pointed at herself, surprised that this grown boy had actually bothered to ask about another human being well fare, " I'm good, great actually. I've never been all alone before for so long and having that gigantic house just for myself is so relaxing " she lied, her stoic expression never wavering. ' I feel miserable... '
" That's nice " he said turning a page.
" How are you? Having jobs requests lately? " she had nothing else to ask him ' pathetic Tae... Can't even keep a conversation... '.
" Hum " he just nodded.
They remained silent, she had nothing to talk about with him, and he seemed too oblivious to her presence. The silence had always frighten her, it was too heavy to bear. But strangely enough it didn't feel weird nor awkward, this man presence was soothing, comfortable. Only with Shinpachi could she sustain the silenced didn't feel obligated maintan a conversation, talk and talk, but now it wasn't needed, she was quite enjoying it, ' It feels good here... Feels right... '
She found herself staring attentively at the lazy samurai her brother admired so much, sprawled in his couch with apparent no care in the world, she noticed small things about him that she had never seen before. He would bite his lower lip from time to time, or blow a curly strand that would fall over his eyes, when some thing he was reading was boring he would draped his leg over the back of the couch and swing it and put a bent arm over his forehead, and when something was funny he slightly smile and his dull eyes would brighten for the briefest of seconds, and the way he would laugh loudly was sweet, ' Just like a kid... ' he would also pick his nose and hear but that she already had seen.
A pleasantly warm and bubbling feeling filled her sore heart and a true gentle smile spread along her serene face, without knowing that man had helped her, brightening up her day, ' He's such an handsome... ' she caught herself and blushed a furious shade of red, sinking deep in the couch facing his and looking away from the silver haired, ' Wh-What was I doing... And thinking... '
" It's getting late, don't you think? " he said out of the blue bringing her back from her thoughts, " Shouldn't you get going before it gets dark ", she mentaly flinched at the the implication of his words.
" Hum. I guess I'll leave no then ", the sole idea of getting back to her big and deserted home, was tightening her chest and growing a lump on her throat, " Could you tell Kagura-chan to drop by the dojo sometime, please ", unwillingly she raised from the cozy couch and was dreading her departure ' I really don't want to leave... '
" Yeah, okay ", he answered, never looking at her.
" Gin-san, Hontoni Arigatou [2]", she said opening the sliding door, " Oh! " she exclaimed surprised as she took in the sight before her eyes, ' Just perfect... '
During the time she had been safe inside, the wind had gain force and was blowing viciously and making loud screeching sounds, it was pooring really hard, it was like having a water curtain in front of you obstructing the view in close proximity, " Good thing I brought my bunny umbrella " she said expressionless, " Sayonara " she closed the door behind her.
She was still at the top of the stairs, when the door was open again, " Are you crazy, woman! ", he's voice came before she could see him turning the corner " Ketsuno Anal is reporting a Typhon, a TYPHON YOU MOUNTAIN GORILLA " he made her hault by grabbing her free arm.
" What did you just call me! " she punched him hard " It doesn't look that bad to me. I can make it home just fine " she calmly stated, turning away ' Not that I'm looking forward to get there... '.
" Oh no. No I will not let you leave into that raging storm, and have you come back as a crazy bitch ghost to kill me because I didn't stop you from being stupid " he said matter of fact blocking her way and rubbing his bruised face.
" I can take perfectly good care of myself ", she tried to push him out of the way, ' You were the one who invited me out... '
" Doubt that ", she froze looking at him, " You are trying to walk trough a freaking typhon, how is that good, you'll just get lost and then I will have to go look for you. My hair can't take that much water and humidity " he finished ' How much of a nuisance am I... '
" Then it's settled, you'll wait out the storm here " he continued, tugging her arm and pushing her inside the house.
A.N.- So... This is a fic I wrote in between the process of writing the newest chapter of my other fic " Some things never change " ( wich I haven't finish despite having write like three different approaches, but I will update soon I promise)
This is GinTae =P I ship them all the way...
This will be a two-shot, hope you guys like it xD
[1] hisashiburi! - Long time no see.
[2] Hontoni Arigatou - Thankyou, truly.
Ja na!
murasakiana n.n