25 Days of Macadamia Nuts
Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama, or make any money from this writing.
A/N: Written for the RLt Advent Calendar challenge issued by ReadingBlueWolf and Aiko Isari.
Some pairings. ;)
Reviews are always very much appreciated. :)
Summary:
The school of Tendo Mushin Macadamia has one rule, "keep smiling." And with the approach of the holidays, Otae and Shinpachi will discover what happens as certain memories slowly melt away, like the chocolate covering on a chocolate-covered macadamia nut. *Spoilers for season 6*
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1: Obi Hajime
"People who are really strong laugh when they want to cry. They endure all the pain and sorrow, while laughing with everybody else." -Obi Hajime
His name is written on the Dojo wall. Looking after them each day as they practice. The students have gone home again, and their cheerful laughter still echoes in the empty room. Gintoki thinks that Obi Hajime would be proud, if he was still alive.
Gintoki takes a handful of chocolate covered nuts – his payment for the day since none of the students had managed to land a hit on him today.
"Oi, it's not that I don't mind," Gintoki says through a mouthful of nuts and chocolate, "but why macadamia nuts?" And it does seem odd, that a man's life insurance money would be used to buy boxes of chocolate covered macadamia nuts, even if they have proven effective in luring students here. But why not buy strawberry parfaits instead?
"Don't you know, Gin-san," Shinpachi says, and his eyes are lowered. "Macadamia nuts are strong, and hard to crack open. And it's surprising how different they are inside."
Gintoki nods, and as the chocolate melts away in his mouth, he wonders if the memories of Obi Hajime are melting away or being reformed.