Tsukuyo woke to the chirping of early morning birds feeling groggy and achy. She lay there for a minuet enjoying the sound. When the sky was first brought to Yoshiwara it was one of the first things after sunlight she had noticed she missed after all those years cooped up. Smiling to herself, she thought of how happy the birds made Hinowa happy and that in turn made Tsukuyo exceedingly pleased. This new freedom and happiness, it was all thanks to… …

Tsukuyo halted her train of thought, noticing with rising panic, the slight weight draped over her waist, as well as her naked backside pressed up against a wall of flesh. Events of last night came pouring back to her in all its X rated glory, making her go beat red from head to toe. She could not believe she had forgotten for even a second!

'My god!' Tsukuyo balked in horror, 'I can't believe that happened! The way I acted!'…She had been so…so…seductive! She covered her flaming face in embarrassment. Sure, she would admit, she had a little bit of a crush on Gintoki, but to go so far... Tsukuyo groaned before thinking, and she froze in fear as another groan much deeper in pitch followed hers. The arm that encircled her pulled her in tighter; she waited never daring to move an inch till the grip finally relaxed once more.

Ever so slowly she turned praying 'please don't wake up,' over and over in her head. Relief flooded her as she saw that her plea had been answered. Tsukuyo studied his sleeping face; cursing him for looking so damned adorable. His curled locks were more dishevelled than usual and falling across his closed eyes. She remembered with vivid detail why she had been so obsessed with it last night. Under the influence of that vampire blood or V juice or whatever, his hair had been like quick silver, and when it caught the light seemed to have highlights of every color imaginable. Now of course, his hair wasn't nearly so glorious…but she still had the unreasonable urge to reach out and brush it back. She wouldn't though, after all that might wake him and if there was one thing she was sure of it was that she would never be able to look Sakata Gintoki in the face again..

Tsukuyo slithered out from under his arm, and silently gathered her scattered articles of clothing, slipping out of the room, before even daring to dress.

Turning herself on auto pilot so she wouldn't have to dwell on the mess she had made, she pulled her cloths on, continued out the house, and only when she had walked a long distance did she stop to lean against a wall. No longer in the old district, Tsukuyo allowed herself access to her own mind, but found she no longer new what to think of the situation.

A few passer byers waved smiling warmly. She acknowledged them with a curt nod. Sighing as she idly searched her person for the familiar pipe, curses. She realized it was missing. Tsukuyo raked her fingers through her still free flowing blond mane trying to make it orderly. She mused at where she may have left her pipe, but the possibilities were too numerous, what with all last night's events and all. She quickly backpedalled, not wishing to relive too many details when an inquiring voice cut in.

"Tsukuyo-neesan?" grateful for the distraction she looked up to see Seita, arms full of bags and boxes obviously running errands for Hinowa. "Mom's been worried sick about you!" he exclaimed.

Tsukuyo pushed off the wall and reached for a few boxes to lighten the boys load. "Then we shouldn't keep her waiting. Should we?" as she started in the direction of the house she smiled, Hinowa was the one thing that might make her feel better. The delicate woman would welcome her back with open arms not asking for any details till Tsukuyo was ready to give them, and she would eventually. She always told Hinowa everything.


Gintoki walked the streets of Kabukicho aimlessly, feeling a foreign hollowness in his gut. Waking up alone when you knew you hadn't fallen asleep that way was defiantly not a good feeling. Gin didn't blame Tsukuyo really; he probably would've done the same thing if he woke first. He had known he would regret last night but somewhere along the way he had stopped caring. It was ridiculous how well he remembered everything too! He expected to wake with a headache and a foggy half remembered daydream of the night before but surprise! Gin could recall the whole thing with extremely precise detail…couldn't stop thinking about it actually, and was almost positive this was one of those things that would never quite leave his mind. It would be there, dancing on the edges of his consciousness, put aside but never forgotten. Unfortunately the headache was in fact, present and accounted for.

With such thoughts spinning in his head Gintoki didn't want to go back to the Yorozuya just yet, he thought of the brigade of questions that waited there for him

"Where have you been?"

"Who were you with?"

"Did something happen?"

"What was it?"

"Why didn't you call?"

Honestly it made his already hurting head spin. Of course he could just brush Shinpachi and Kagura aside and say he had a hangover from partying too hard. Though, that would start a whole new batch of complaints from the two teens he didn't wish to deal with in his current state.

Gintoki lost track of time as he meandered about with no destination, then he heard an annoyingly familiar voice ring out. "Kintoki!" Gin stopped in his tracks as Sakamoto Tatsuma stumbled toward him red coat flapping about him and laughing in that irritating way of his. "AHAHA! It must be Kintoki!"

"Oi its Gintoki!" the samurai corrected to deaf ears. The merchant caught up to Gin and regained his balance. "What are you doing here?" he asked irritated

"How cold Kintoki," Sakamoto wined in a fake offended tone "it's been so long. Is this how you treat an old friend?"

"Friend?" Gin looked around himself tone mocking "old friends know each other's names. I see no one fitting that description in the vicinity."

"I've been looking for you all day." The merchant suddenly serious pushed up his round sunglasses with one finger. The abrupt change in mood made Gin pause and notice for the first time that the sun was already setting. Had he seriously been wondering all day? "Let's get a drink shall we?" the merchant stated clapping him on the back, ' I have a business proposition for you."


Sonya stared out at the vast void in front of her, she liked space but she was already missing Edo. When they had landed there for the first time, an overwhelming sense of homecoming washed over her. She figured it was because her own world had become unrecognisable to her, that place seemed like one big machine with all its technological advancements over span of her long life. But Edo, it still held fragments of the world she had almost forgotten. Even at this distance, though the effects were muted, she still felt her human there. She could not think of the silver samurai in any other way, he was hers. In her human life so long ago Sonya had never been a mother but she was almost sure this new maternal feeling could be compared to that anyway.

A familiar presents came up behind her but she didn't even bother to turn and greet him. "Why did you hinder my plan dear sister?"

She didn't deny his accusations but retorted dryly. "You know why, my dear brother." Sonya glanced over her shoulder at the vampire lounging against the opposite wall, a smirk pulling at his lips.

"Do you believe in reincarnation?" leaving his spot on the wall he joined her by the window.

Sonya shook her head. "I don't know Revon. I can't say that it's impossible...but even if this girl is Leona's reincarnation, that still doesn't make her Leona."

"Oh it's her alright." He cut in stubbornly, "I always knew I would find her again."

She didn't try to dissuade him. She knew Rev far too well to waste her breath trying. She wanted to go back to Edo anyways and was sure she could convince him to wait a few years before going back himself. What was a few more years tacked onto a hundred anyways?

Sonya was made by the same vampire who had made Revon, which was why they considered each other siblings, but he was almost twice her age, and when she had first become a vampire, he and Leona had already been together for a long time. Sonya had yet to witness in all her years a more dysfunctional relationship. Their ups made you believe in magic, and their downs destroyed empires. By the time Sonya was around, they mostly consisted of downs. Sonya recalled a particular episode where Leona was bathed in his blood cursing his name, screeching that she was finally done with him. It was very difficult to mutilate a vampire when they could heal every injury inflicted on them by simply drinking blood, but that didn't stop Revon. A pure obsidian dagger, forged in the heart of an exploding star, and blessed in the blood of a nebula angel. To this day Sonya had no idea how he had obtained it, but it could kill almost anything. He had pounced on Leona and carved out her voice box so she could never say she wanted to leave him again. Leona 's wound did eventually close but it left her with an angry scar that seemed alive every time she swallowed, she couldn't regenerate her lost vocal cords ether.

The younger vampire glanced at her brother out the corner of her eye. Sometimes knowing he loved her was frightening, Revon seemed to do terrible things to the people he loved most. She thought again of the girl who looked like Leona. Closing her eyes she sent out a silent prayer, seeking out her human, she begged him to watch over her…if she really was Leona, Sonya never wanted her to be wrought with such tragedy again.


Gin studied the man before him, Sakamoto, the usually care free and overly optimistic idiot was in one of his rare sombre moods. "So what is it you want?" Gin asked irritated

The merchant gave one of his famous laughs "ahahaha, Drink up Kintoki…I can't have you too sober or you'll defiantly refuse my offer." he poured Gin another drink and the samurai happily accepted. Curious despite his better judgment Gintoki couldn't help his inquiry.

"Offer? What offer would that be?" the samurai downed the shot and placed his glass down heavily in front of the merchant. Sakamoto sighed, shaking his head in defeat with his palms raised before handing over the whole bottle. As Gin poured himself another drink his companion elaborated.

"A job offer to be precise." his glass pausing before his lips, Gin raised one eyebrow. Ok…not expecting that one he thought.

"That's pretty standard" Gin said looking strangely at his friend's apprehensive expression, "Jeez with the mode you're giving off and all this back room hush hush talk I thought you wanted my left kidney or something."

The man laughed at that with his typical amount of gusto, a bit of his usual silliness worming back into him before disappearing again. "Not a job request for the Yorozuya, a job for you, and a long one at that."

Gintoki felt his anxiety return along with an unexpected feeling of…what was this feeling exactly? Unsure Gin just asked, "Long?"

"Just let me explain things before you say too much ok?" Gin nodded his consent and Sakamoto continued. "One of my ships is setting out for a deep space run but I can't go with it because I'm busy handling my business expansion."

"And you want me to instead?" the samurai asked unable to believe the situation he was in. on one hand the thought of leaving earth, heck of leaving Edo, disturbed him greatly. He was happy in this little life he had carved out for himself here in Kabukicho. But on the other hand, he never wanted to just run away more than he did right know, and that was saying something! Sakamoto was continuing so he downed another shot to clear away his conflicting feelings.

"The Harusame has been acting up against my ships a little since Takasugi pulled a mutiny. They heard rumours of our acquaintance and thought maybe I was supplying him with the means to escape detection." The merchant paused to study him but Gintoki stayed silent. He sighed, "Look I know I don't have much of a head for business so I usually leave this sort of thing up to Mutsu…but I need someone I know I can trust, someone who can't be bought off to make this run for me."

"And I'm the best you could find? That's a little sad" Sakamoto laughed once again and readjusted his shades. How he could even see in this dim light with those things still on Gintoki would never know.

"Actually if I'm being honest," he sheepishly scratched at the back of his head, "I asked Zura first." Gintoki gave his friend a face of utter disbelief

"That's even sadder. I'm really beginning to question your sanity" Gin shook his head sadly "Zura is just downright the village idiot these days"

"Ahahahaha well… I just happened to run into him first and at the time I didn't even consider you." Gintoki grimaced

"Oi oi…That's a little harsh." The merchant put his hands up in surrender

"Well I thought you would never accept you know? You said you loved earth remember?" Gintoki couldn't help but recall the day when Sakamoto first said he dreamed of traveling through space and invited Gin to come along. Gintoki had wished him luck and said he chose to stay, that this planet was big enough for him… …But the war had continued and he had lost more comrades then he liked to remember. At the time he reconsidered his choice, thinking maybe he should have just left with Sakamoto…but then after all the battles, he had met Otose and things just seemed right again, for the first time in a long time. But now after last night, he felt hollowness inside akin to what he felt before and he didn't want to go back to feeling this way.

Running just seemed easier than seeing her face, she would probably say something funny like how he owed her a ridiculous sum of money and good luck trying to pay her back. Gintoki was usually so good with brushing things aside with jokes but this time…he just didn't want that to happen.

"-I had no idea what he was talking about but here I am asking any way…So, what do you say?

"What?" Gintoki asked confused. He had missed half of what the merchant had said too lost in his own thoughts.

"I said," he repeated with exasperation, "Zura said no, but told me it was 'probable' you would say yes. Something about how you would likely 'need a reprieve from this fair city.' I said I have no idea what he meant but would ask anyway…so?"

"Uh…" Gin was at a loss for words. Just how far did Zura's intelligence reach anyway? What was it that he knew? Sometimes Gintoki forgot that the man was one of the most wanted by the Shinsengumi. Ether he was really, really good, just plain stalked him 24/7, or his pet duck thing that was Elizabeth was psychic. Gintoki was inclined to believe the Third option. "I need a day or two" he finally said in response to his friend's question. "To think things over and talk to Shinpachi and Kagura."

"Of course!" Sakamoto chimed.

"Just out of curiosity, how long is long? Gin asked

The man scratched his unruly head of brown hair, "umm….about Four years." Gintoki nearly choked on the sake he was currently drinking, snorting it out his nose in a painful burn. Sakamoto didn't bat an eye at his friend's surprise. "I leave in a week but I won't need you till the end of next month so get back to me before I go ya?" he quickly scribbled his contact info on a napkin and slid it over. "Pleasure doing business." And with that the merchant set down the money he owed for the food and liquor and strutted out the bar laughing, "Ahahaha! Oryou-chan wait for me, I'm coming!" leaving Gintoki alone and stunned in his seat.

"Oi! I didn't even say yes yet Oooii!" he yelled after the flapping red coat.


"Leaving?" Kagura questioned innocently, "what do you mean you're leaving?" Gintoki eyed the teens in front of him who were giving him looks of confusion. He had told them of the situation and his intention to except the offer. "What about us?"

"Well it won't be for a while and it's your choice." He stated "but…do you want to leave everything and go into space for four years?" they stared down at their hands dejectedly. Gintoki already knew one answer. Shinpachi would stay, of that he was certain. He had too much of a sister complex to leave, plus there was his obsession with that pop star and originally he had joined the Yorozuya to rebuild his family's dojo or something like that. The real problem was Kagura. She wouldn't want to leave, but she was too young to stay here alone. She could go traveling with her real father but that would mean leaving too. She was extremely attached to the sugar samurai and sometimes Gin felt like she was pretty much his. Unfair really, he thought, he was only 25. Why did he have to raise a 14 year old girl? Not that he would ever say anything like that to Kagura as more than a joke and normally he didn't even mind, but right now it made him feel like a crappy person. Dragging her away from her life and friends here in Edo was not part of his usual would be father routine. "Look you don't need to say anything right now; you can take your time deciding what to do." They nodded in unison Gintoki was surprised they were taking this so well. There was none of that usual uproar that went with these situations. It almost worried him. "And Kagura," he added "don't feel like you have no choice, if you want to stay I'll figure something out."


Things went back to business as usual around the Yorozuya, jokes and jabs flew from everyone's mouths and the heavy mood from before seemed all but forgotten. Still…Shinpachi couldn't help but notice a slight change in his mop-headed boss, a rigidness that wasn't there before. Over the next few weeks it only became more apparent. He didn't eat as much sugar or read as much jump, he didn't complain about jobs as much but his Cynicism was on over drive. Shinpachi thought he knew Gintoki pretty well but he couldn't pinpoint the cause of this odd behaviour. The best guess he could muster up was cause of the whole leaving for space issue. Though that confused him also, something must have happened to make Gin even consider leaving Kabukicho. As for Shinpachi himself, he had thought about it a great deal but had decided he couldn't do it…he couldn't leave.


Tsukuyo was late, very late and not for some very important date. She was a woman of Yoshiwara, or at least she had been once…till she scarred her face and threw that life away but still, old habits die hard. One of those habits was? Always knowing when your cycle should be! No big deal, it had happened before right? At least that's what she was trying to tell herself as she sat there shaking her leg and drumming her fingers on the table. Then of course, on those occasions she had had no reason to think twice about it, but she did now…and with the way some smells were just the most awful thing these days…to the point of making her sick…God! How long did it take for a stupid stick to turn a stupid colour! She had purposely done this while Hinowa and Seta were out, having yet to divulge the heart of the problem to the gentle woman. Yes the heart of the problem…Sakata Gintoki…at first she had refused to believe for even a second the possibility of there being consequences from that night, but facts are facts and they were simply lining up against her. So she broke down, went to the store (one not in Yoshiwara for good reason) and bought the infernal piss stick if only to put her fears to rest once and for all. That was two days ago and now finally, she had mustered up the nerve to actually use it.

Tsukuyo took a deep breath and looked at the test…then felt like she had been punched in the stomach by the king of night himself. Hands shaking she fumbled for the box praying there must be some kind of mistake…"how accurate are they really?" she remembered asking the middle aged woman who had sold her the test. Her answer was reverberating through Tsukuyo's head as she stared at the offending object in her sweaty hands.

"They make them pretty accurate these days….though I have heard of some cases when it can come up negative when it's really a positive…but if it says positive…your pretty much 100% pregnant."

"Pregnant" Tsukuyo whispered to herself as her eyes bored a hole into the offending object. How did this happen? Ok she knew how it happened, what could you expect really after so much unprotected shenanigans that had happened that night? What she really wanted to know was why did this have to happen!? Oh god, she was pregnant. She let her hand glide over her lower abdomen. She was going to have a baby…Gintoki's baby…shit was she supposed to tell him? But then what? It's not like they were together or probably ever would be…would that change if she told him? Would he want to be with her? With the baby? Or would it just be and obligation that he felt he had to do? Or maybe he wouldn't want anything to do with ether of them…maybe he would just brush the whole thing aside like it was nothing. Tsukuyo didn't know which option she hated more. Should she just get rid of it before it was even an issue? The second the thought crossed her mind it made her sick for even thinking it. Placing both hands over her belly protectively her stony expression finally cracked. Not once in her life had she ever pictured herself as a mother, she just wasn't the caregiver type, but something inside her had changed the moment she saw that positive colour. She just hadn't sorted out what this feeling was yet exactly. A thousand questions streamed through her head and each one just made her think of even more questions but all the answers eluded her.

The sound of the door sliding opening made Tsukuyo jump; it was followed by the tinkling of Hinowa's laughter and Seta's boisterous complaints of heavy bags. Tsukuyo tried and failed to hide her distress before the woman noticed.

In a beat she had dropped her things and wheeled over. "What is wrong dear one?" The woman cooed gently stroking the blonde's hair. Tsukuyo let the tears she was holding back spill over.

"Hinowa…" her voice was soft and shaky, "I'm ready to tell you everything, if you'll listen."

The sun embraced the moon in her arms as the later shuddered with silent sobs. "I'm always here for you precious, no matter what."


Kagura loved this town. All the hustle and bustle of the large pushy crowds, animated street vendors trying to sell you their wears, trouble she got into, playing games with the other kids. She even liked the rugged lawless citizens that occupied it, creating chaos on every grungy corner around. She smiled as she and Sadaharu wandered the streets enjoying an aroma of something greasy being fried as it wafted toward them.

She was well known throughout the town as she could often be seen riding atop her giant white dog shaded by her purple umbrella not unlike today. Many people gave her friendly smiles or joyful waves. She waved back with enthusiasm and even graced some with a smile of her own. Kagura was the self-proclaimed queen of Kabukicho and so far had met no resistance on the matter…though sadly only the other children seemed to call her as such. No matter, it would spread eventually… …

Unless she disappeared for four years…Kagura's face fell, what was she going to do? The day of departure was nearing and she had yet to make up her mind about leaving. Four years is a long time to be away. She had friends here and a life she didn't want to leave…but then again, life here without Gin-chan would be boring…wouldn't it? For Kagura being around Gintoki made her loneliness go away. He seemed to fill both the roll of her absent Papi and her psycho brother at the same time. Obviously Gin-chan would never physically hurt her like Kamui had, but still even thinking of seeing him walk away from her the way her real brother did when she was young…it made her want to cry.

Kagura jumped down from her large mount turning to pat his head. "Sadaharu go play! I'll meet you later in the park ok?" the oversized dog gave its surprisingly high yap in return, as if in answer before scampering off in the direction of said park.

Kagura looked around noting she was buy the river, when she was down she loved to perch on the bridge railing and gaze at the reflections of the people crossing. Quickly she made her way to her favourite spot and soon found herself staring at the people pass by as time rolled along, weighing the pros and cons trying to make up her mind.

Blinking away her daze she noticed she was staring at an annoyingly board face resting in its own palm that was staring back. Disgusted wormed into her expression instantly. "What are you doing china?" The super sadist asked with a tone that said he really didn't give a flying fuck but he was seeking some form of entertainment and hoped she would provide it.

"Che," The girl scoffed, "breaking your face…" as she said the words she pushed his elbow from its perch but Okita caught himself before his head connected with the wood.

"Bring it on little girl, I would destroy you anytime." The corners of his lips curled up in a cruel smile and as their eyes met, a mixture of mirth and malice momentarily lit his gaze, then it fizzled out and he was left looking dismal again. "At least that's what I would say…but I'm off duty and I have vowed never to do anything strenuous on my days off." Kagura took in his clothing observing that they were not the regular black uniform of the Shinsengumi but just his regular street garb.

"It wouldn't be hard at all! I'll kill you quickly and painfully so you never have to work again! How is this a bad plan?" the Capitan just hummed in response which made her bristle with irritation. She wanted to work out her frustration on this scum of a life form that could barely be called human, but it wouldn't work if he didn't take the bait. Suddenly a strange idea sparked in her, she wasn't really sure where it came from but she went with it anyway. "Hey super sadistic prince who's no better than the grime under my shoes…"

Okita frowned at her. "What you ugly skank ogress alien life form who's invading my planet?" that earned him a sharp blow to the back of his head that would have knocked anyone else out cold.

"If you had to choose between a place you love, or a person you never want to leave, which would you pick."

The sudden serious question threw him for a loop and it took him a moment to see that she was waiting intently for an answer. "Why?" he questioned, rubbing his head.

"Just answer the question" she snapped.

He studied her for a minute, shaking his head as he replied, "That's stupid; obviously a place is only as special as the people who are there. The people are the place…so to speak"

Kagura's eyes lit up in understanding, of course that was right! Now she had her answer and she begrudgingly had this bozo to thank for it…like hell she was doing that! Gracefully she jumped down from her spot. Kagura would go with Gin-chan into space cause being without him was lonely. She was sure Gin-chan would be lonely too if she stayed, she couldn't have that! Especially with his behaviour lately…he had better let Sadaharu come too or she would be mad! Kagura turned back to Okita Sougo. "You sure you don't want to die or a least have a few bones shattered today?"

The man in question was lounging on the railing both elbows resting on the ledge, he quirked an eyebrow at the red clad girl. "As much fun as it would be to make you bleed and beg for your life I think I'll pass."

Kagura grimaced, "That's somehow sounds discussing in a whole new way coming from you." She shuddered once more then smiled as she started to walk away backwards. "Well it might be a long while before I can take your life from you so don't get yourself offed by someone lesser ok!" she pulled at her cheek showing the white of her under eye and stuck out her tongue. "bleh!" with that she took off to meet with Sadaharu at the park. Leaving Okita behind slightly wondering what she meant by a 'long while' and if he even cared at all.


Oi! This was ridiculous! He was leaving in three days, everything was arranged. When he had told Otose, the person he should feel most reluctant to leave, she had given him that knowing mother look but said only "good riddance." He had said something along the lines that she wasn't allowed to die or come across any trouble whatsoever while he was gone.

So why, why, why! Was he still feeling so damn guilty! Obviously Gintoki knew why…there was one person who he had yet to tell he was leaving…the very person he was running away from…Tsukuyo.

He didn't even understand it; this need to run away, Sakata Gintoki didn't run away. He was a samurai and he cared about his friends more than anything in this world or any other for that matter. Tsukuyo was his friend and he cared about her…and that was precisely why he needed to run away from her. It hardly made sense, even to him, but because he had no family to speak of Gin treated his friends as his family. He would do anything for them. But that night…with Tsukuyo… it had been different. He had touched something beautiful, and he didn't mean just the unbelievable, vampire blood educed, super sensitive, fucking godly! Love making that had gone down…thought that was…he didn't even know what to say about that.

More importantly there was this bond, this connection he had felt that scared the shit out of him. It was strong, too strong! The last time he ever forged a bond like that…when it was severed it almost killed him. He wouldn't go through it again…couldn't…but goddamn it why? When every ounce of his survival instincts told him to bolt was there still a foreign feeling telling him to go to her. Well he wouldn't…and this alien feeling he knew wasn't from him could go to hell.

Gintoki couldn't describe it… …it was like someone else was sending him this feel that he needed to be by Tsukuyo's side. Like she was somehow in danger… and no matter how much he knew it wasn't coming from him he couldn't ignore it. The samurai broke down…he wouldn't go to her directly but…he could call. Thankful that Shinpachi and Kagura were out he picked up the receiver and dialled the number half hoping no one would answer.

"Hello?" Hinowa's tender voice floated into Gin's ear.

"Uh…" what did he say? "Um… it's Sakata Gintoki…" oh yes very clever. "Is ah… can I talk to…does Tsukuyo happen to be around?" there was a long pause…oh god Hinowa knew didn't she…Gintoki crumpled in on himself. This was a terrible idea.

"Sorry" her sweet voice disappeared, replaced by a stern tone he had never heard her use before. "She's not in right now."

His spirits dropped. "Oh…well" now what? "I was really hoping to talk to her…is she…when will she be back?"

"…she-"

"Hello?" a cooler tenor voice cut in, and just hearing it made Gintoki's insides tighten.

"Tsu-" his mouth was dry and he couldn't seem to make is lips move properly. He cleared his throat and tried again "Tsukuyo, hey…how are you?" really that's what he just said? How are you?

"Do you need something Gintoki?" she said.

That cold voice of hers made him have X-rated flash backs of her crying his name in ecstasy, he could hear her breathing into the receiver and it reminded him of her seductive whispers in his ear. This had been a bad idea. In his panic to switch the gears of his mind, the damn broke and he let it all come pouring out "I just want to say goodbye."

He might have imagined it but he thought he heard a sharp intake of breath."G-goodbye?"

"Yeah. I'm leaving Edo, a friend needs me for this job in space and I'm going to be gone for a long time…four years actually…Its well-paying and I don't really have a reason to say no…do I?" oh real subtle Gintoki... "I leave in three days…unless…" seriously? You would stay if she asked you too! When did this phone call become about that huh? Oi just what is it you think you're doing! He raged at himself for being this weak, what the hell was this beaten puppy routine anyway?

"… … …unless what? It's a good opportunity right?" Gintoki felt the cold sting of rejection like a slap In the face. It was probably all in his head…for a second he had wanted her to tell him to stay, like maybe she had felt what he had that night, but he was kidding himself.

"Yeah, Yeah I just meant unless Sakamoto gets lost on his way back to earth and things get delayed…." He thought of his half-baked excuse and realized it was quite true. "Which is a distinct possibility..." He heard something like a laugh but short and strangled. "Well… I guess…I guess I'll be seeing you…"

"… …Goodbye Gintoki" her voice was the same as usual but he thought he heard a small break, his imagination more likely.

"…Goodbye Tsukuyo" he hung up the phone, feeling worse than when he had picked it up. "…I'll miss you."


Tsukuyo hung up the phone, her stoic face never faltering. She picked it up again and listened to the constant mono ring. She said what she didn't have the courage to say while Gintoki was still on the other line. "By the way…" pressing her palm to her belly she whispered it softly, afraid he might somehow still hear her." I'm pregnant."