az: Set in any time after the Shinsengumi Internal Discord/Itou arc.
[Edit] I tweaked this piece a bit since this was one of my fav piece and it's kinda embarassing to see some weeb language so I just had to fix it. XD
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies. Because I'm lazy to write it out and surprisingly there were people out there that thought that fanfictions are canon and all that shit. Gintama was created by Hideaki Sorachi.
Rain
Honestly don't bring up depressing topic when it's already so gloomy
Written by Izzu alias honou-no-izumi
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It's raining heavily as usual in this time of the year. Yet, tonight's rain was unlike the usual. Because you don't usually get to pick up some lost souls along the way in this kind of times.
Shimura Tae walked out of the store after bidding farewell to some of her friends who were heading at the opposite direction. It was raining heavily and everyone was rushing to head back to the comforts of their warm homes. It came as a surprise to her then to find the unlikely person, sitting alone on a bench in front of the shop; looking like an abandoned puppy. Seeing him in this circumstance, Otae could not help but walk towards him.
"Stranded in here because of the rain, is it... Gin-san? What have you been doing... out buying JUMP again?" asked Otae cheerfully.
Gintoki did not give her any reply as he kept staring blankly on the pavement. Otae frowned. She placed a hand on his shoulder to try nudging him but could not help noticing that his clothes were already wet. Her anger at him for ignoring her immediately turned to alarm as she shook him harder.
"Gin-san... Gin-san, are you alright? Gin-san!"
Gintoki blinked as he slowly looked up towards her.
"Hmm? What's the matter?"
Otae glared at him as she pulled him hard.
"What me? You're soaking wet! Come then... my house was nearer than yours, it's better than staying here—"
"I'm okay... just leave me here you—chii!"
Gintoki suddenly sneezed as Tae stared at him knowingly.
"You were saying—?" she asked as Gin reluctantly let himself be dragged away by the girl.
xxx
Otae's eyes lighted up as she returned into the room after Gin finished bathing and changing out into a dry yukata. She smiled as Gintoki gave her a perplexed stare.
"Ah! It fits you! I'm glad we finally had a use for it. Here... let me help. Didn't anyone tell you to dry yourself properly? You'll get a cold at this rate!" said Otae as she roughly dry Gin's hair with a towel.
"Hey... cut it—be gentle, you! Do you want to take my head off or something? And hey—no making my hair even more messy than it already was!" cried Gintoki as Otae laughed. He sighed as the young woman continued fussing with his hair. "By the way... whose yukata was this?"
Otae paused as Gintoki looked up towards her. She shrugged.
"It used to belong to my late father. It was too large for Shin-chan to wear it though... so I just keep it in the cupboard for the time being—"
Gintoki blinked.
"Y-your f-father's? I-is it okay t-that I—"
"It's okay. You looked good in it anyway. Besides, I won't be cruel as to let you wear your wet clothes... and at least these clothes have some other uses as well rather than collect dust."
Gintoki grinned nervously.
"I... see. Tch!"
"Ah! You're already showing signs of getting a cold! Hmm... I knew we still had some sake in the kitchen and eggs are aplenty—Gin-san, wait here okay? I'll go prepare something for you—", exclaimed Otae as she darted out of the room, banging onto something else before heading straight to the kitchen.
Gin nodded at her as he sneezed again, barely noticing the danger before realising the situation he was facing.
"Ah yeah... sake... eggs... EGGS? Otae-chan? Wait, you can't be thinking of making tamagoza—wait a moment! I can make it myself! You don't have to—Otae-chan?" cried Gintoki in panic as he hurriedly rushed out of the room, barely noticing it as he stepped on something large; as he dashed towards the kitchen to save his life. Back at the corridors, Kondo Isao crawled to the side as he rubbed his face and stomach, at which the two monsters so conveniently stepped on him earlier.
xxx
Gintoki winced as he rubbed gently on his sore cheek. Otae glared at him as she courtly placed the tray containing a pot of tamagozake, a plate of azuki buns and two cups. She poured some of the tamagozake as she passed it to him.
"Really... you shouldn't have hit me so hard! At least the tamagozake turned out to be okay—", moaned Gin aloud.
"So you're saying that my cooking was bad?"
"No, NO!", Gin hurriedly interjected, "—just that, I don't want the kitchen to blow up suddenly—" he said again before trailing off as he stared towards the pavements. It was still raining heavily outside and the night was getting late. Suddenly, he felt everything becoming cold again.
Otae frowned as she noticed this. She picked up a bun and broke it into two, before passing the other half to Gin.
"Hey... you're spacing off again. Here, have something to eat. Earlier we had some extra buns leftover so I brought some home—" she said as Gintoki perked up a bit and took her offer. He muttered his thanks as he bit on the bun.
Otae watched him silently eat and drink by himself before she sat a little closer to him.
"Gin-san, is there something wrong? You looked more depressed today than before. Is there a problem?"
Gintoki grinned at her as he sipped on his drink.
"No. Just that... the rain made me feel a bit low. If I hadn't been stuck in the rain alone by myself, it wouldn't be so bad. Being in the rain like this alone by myself... just made me recollect some memories that I rather not be remembering so much now."
Otae cocked her head in confusion as she took a sip off her own sake. A sliding door at the back inched out a bit as Otae threw a naginata towards it. The naginata stuck on the door, missing the target but she could barely hear the Kondo gasping for his life at the back. She smiled in victory.
But apparently, the small commotion went unnoticed by Gin as Otae poured for him more of the tamagozake. Gintoki's cheeks started to flush red as he continued to talk.
"Ne... Otae-chan. Someone used to tell me that rain washes everything it fell on. That the presence of rain itself was cleansing. But I can't fully agree on that."
"Sure... it washes everything away; the dirt, blood... the very smell of death. But to me, it wasn't like that. That time... as I was standing there alone, covered in the blood of the enemies I've slain; the rain fell. Instead of washing everything away, the stench of blood and death clung onto me. That feeling... was never pleasant. It was scary. I really hoped to never again remember that part of my past ever again. But whenever it's a rainy season like this... and whenever I have been alone by myself in such situation, I—"
Gintoki flinched as Otae's warm hand crept onto his own. He turned towards her as she gave him a warm smile.
"—but you're no longer alone, Gin-san. You have a lot of people staying by your side. There's no reason to be afraid anymore—"
His eyes widened after hearing her words before they softened again. Gintoki chuckled.
"Yeah, you're right. Haha... silly me. You must've been laughing at me, isn't it? To be depressed about such things..."
"No, I don't. Gin-san also has the right to be depressed about anything. You can't always keep everything inside yourselves; you have to talk it out with people."
Gintoki paused a bit, looking at her in bewilderment before realising that what she said had some truth. He was not alone now anymore...
Gintoki smiled weakly as he leaned closer towards her.
"Thank you... Otae-cha—"
Of course, why did he kept thinking stupid things like him still being alone...?
xxx
Kondo leaned closer as he could barely hear anything anymore from the other side of the room. Because of the earlier retaliation, he had tried to be even more cautious when eavesdropping on the two but with things becoming even quieter now; he could not help feeling the suspense. What if something happens in there when he was not looking? What if something that should not be happeni—wait, he should not be thinking too far! Otae-san would not be doing what he thought might be happening but then...
"Ah... sorry. That was uncalled for, I shouldn't—ah!"
Kondo felt his heart coming to a stop. That... was Yorozuya's voice! What the hell's happening inside? Should he barge in? But what if he saw something that he did not want to see and actually confirming what he did not want to happen to actually happen right in front of him and actually seeing it—wait, he should not jump to any conclusions! But... the tension was growing inside of him! What if it was too late? What if there's something that was happening right now that would change the situation between his and Otae's relationship was brought out into the open? What if—ah! This was driving him crazy! Eh?
He swore he heard someone moaned just now! Was it his imagination? Ah... he could not take it any longer!
Kondo kicked the sliding door away as he was greeted by a very irritated Otae. He swallowed nervously as he barely noticed Sakata Gintoki leaning on her shoulders. Otae glared at him.
"What do you think you're doing, GORILLA? Didn't my warnings earlier indicate that I want you OUT of THIS PLACE?"
Kondo quivered. "B-but, I was worrying... and both of you were alone by yourselves here..."
"That was NONE of your BUSINESS!", she hissed before sighing. "Considering that you're here already... Gori-san, mind you help me carry this useless guy to that futon over there? And please fix that sliding door you so mindlessly kick away—", she said again, sugary. Kondo obeyed silently as he carried the now sleeping man to the futon, silently cursing his luck. (Hey, the Yorozuya gets to spend the night over in this house a couple of times and what he ever get all this time? Just several nights sleeping out in the cold... occasionally being accompanied by several sharpened bamboos.) But complaining was not going to make things better for him in any case so he went on obediently putting back the sliding doors in place. He turned around as the work was done.
"Now please go home, Gori-san!"
"But Otae-san—"
"Gori-san, it's disheartening for me to be calling the Shinsengumi this late just to escort you back. So please be leaving now."
Kondo froze as he was about to speak and sighed in remorse.
"All right... I'll be heading back now."
"Oh... and Kondo-san?"
"Yes?" asked Kondo hopefully.
"Earlier... you've been listening to our conversation, isn't it? I'd like it... that you would not be telling others about what you've just heard."
Kondo raised his brow at her as he understood what she had meant and nodded.
"Yes, I understand. I guess even for Yorozuya, there are things better left alone."
"Thank you... and please be on your way now."
Kondo stuttered a bit at the change in topic as he unceremoniously took leave. Otae sighed as she proceeded to close the outer sliding doors. She walked back towards Gin's side to cover him with a blanket. She sighed.
"Whoa... what a long night!" she exclaimed as she yawned. "Ara... I forgot to call Shin-chan and Kagura-chan to tell about Gin-san. Ah, later then!" she mused to herself as she glanced towards the sleeping man.
"Sleep tight..." she whispered as she planted a soft kiss on his cheeks.
xxx
Shinpachi and Kagura entered the dojo quietly as they locked the gates behind them. Kagura sighed as she followed Shinpachi into the main hall.
"Sorry Kagura-chan... for the suddenness. Since Gin-san hadn't returned home, I'd be worried if you stayed there by yourself, even though Sadaharu is with you. Plus... there's a lot of room here so staying over a bit won't be a problem."
"I understand—", said Kagura courtly as she patted Sadaharu's back. The inugami shook its fur as it sprayed water all over. Shinpachi threw her a piece of cloth as both of them tried to dry Sadaharu's drenched body.
"Really... where on earth was Gin-chan? I figured he might get stuck somewhere in the rain... but he never called back to tell if he's okay. Stupid Gin-chan..."
"Maa, maa... he probably couldn't get to a phone or something. In any case... where's my sister?"
"Eh, Shinpachi... isn't that Gin-chan's boots?" suddenly Kagura exclaimed as she pointed towards the shoe cabinet. Shinpachi blinked.
"Yeah... that's Gin-san's. Why on earth—Big Sis, where are you?" cried the lad as he searched around the house.
"Sis Boss—! Are you there?" cried Kagura from the other side of the room as she searched around with Sadaharu. As she entered another room, she gave a loud cry. Shinpachi immediately rushed over.
"What was it Kagura? Did anything happen? Why did you just—"
Kagura just pointed towards the room as Shinpachi turned to look. Inside, both Gintoki and his sister were sleeping soundly side by side, oblivious to everything. Shinpachi and Kagura entered the room quietly as Sadaharu wandered elsewhere. Kagura groaned.
"Mou... Gin-chan! If you're coming here why on earth you never tell!" she cried as she grabbed one of the remaining buns nearby and ate it angrily. Shinpachi shook his head as well as he took a blanket to cover his sister.
"Strange... why would Gin-san come here and why didn't sis call—"
"Perhaps because Sis Boss caught Gin-chan drenched in the rain and brought him home and forgot to call in..."
"EHH? AND HOW'D YOU KNOW THAT—AND WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING? DON'T JUST SWALLOW RANDOM STUFF WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT WAS IT!" cried Shinpachi as Kagura pointed towards Gin's wet clothes that were hung at another corner of the room. She grinned as she finished drinking.
"I'm hungry and you're being too loud! What's the problem? This thing tasted nice anyway... ah, I feel sleepy..." sighed Kagura as she rested her head on top of Gin's chest, cheeks slightly flushed.
Shinpachi looked at her in confusion before taking a short sip of the leftover beverage in the pot.
"Tamagozake? Ahh, it was like that? Well, at least we don't have to worry about Gin-san anymore." he sighed as he turned off the lights for the night.
xxx
Morning.
Gintoki opened one eye lazily as he caught sight of the sleeping Otae beside him.
He blinked as he barely recalled the events from last night and sighed. Suddenly he felt something heavy on his left side and turned his head around to see Kagura snuggling close beside him with Shinpachi and Sadaharu sleeping as well at the far corner. Gintoki lifted an eyebrow.
"Eh? Since when this had turned out into some large sleepover session—?" he mumbled aloud as Gintoki rolled back to sleep.
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az: Hnn Hnn... because I needed my random dose of GinXTae and it was hard pressed to find much so I ended up typing this.