Chapter 2

It had been almost an entire week since Gintoki last saw Tsukuyo. For the past six days, everyday he disguised himself and stood in the sidelines to look out for her. Today was the last day he was able to look out for her, since he was going to be busy with the duties he neglected. He was sitting looking out for her and thought about the day they met. Her boob was really squishy and big. I can't stop thinking about it and her. He looked at his right hand and made the groping motion. He let out a huge yawn while looking at the road with a bored expression. Crap. I think I slept too late last night. I just might pass out right here. Gintoki tried his best to stay awake but eventually fell asleep.

-x-

"Let's see this should be all." Tsukuyo was walking around buying ingredients that Ikumatsu requested for. Little by little rain started pouring out of nowhere. Everyone was running to take shelter but she didn't mind walking in the rain. As she was walking, she noticed a man with familiar silver hair sleeping on the side. There was a roof shielding him but little bit of rain still hit him. She walked up to him and noticed he was knocked out. He looks like he hasn't gotten any sleep. I wonder why he's here. Gintoki shivered in his sleep and this didn't go unnoticed by her. "What kinda idiot sleeps out in tha open?" She took off her haori and put it on him and walked away.

An hour later Gintoki woke up from his nap. The rain had stopped pouring and the sun was finally out. He stretched out his arms and noticed a haori fell onto his lap. He held up the haori and inspected it with a smirk. "A haori huh? I wonder whose it could be." He clenched onto the haori. "It was nice of her to finally show up, though I believed she would. It's a shame I missed her." He stood up and stretched the rest of his body out. He looked up towards the sky with a smile. "I'm sure we'll meet again." He walked back to the palace in a good mood with her haori in his hand.

-x-

"Tsukuyo-san you're drenched!"

"Yeah it started rainin' outta nowhere. Here are tha ingredients ya needed Ikumatsu-san." Tsukuyo handed over the ingredients to her.

"Thank you so much. Let me go get you a cloth to dry yourself up with." Ikumatsu quickly ran to get Tsukuyo a cloth and came back out. She handed the cloth over to her. "Here you go."

"Thank ya." Tsukuyo put the cloth over her head and gently rubbed her wet hair.

"Say Tsukuyo-san didn't you walk out with a haori on? You could've shielded yourself with it. Where is it?"

"Ah that? There was someone who needed it more than I did."

Ikumatsu looked at her with a confused expression and was going to ask her what happened but got distracted by two courtesans who screamed with excitement. The two courtesans saw them and ran up to them.

"Hey Ikumatsu-chan, Tsukuyo-chan did you hear?" one of the women asked.

"Hah? Hear what?" Tsukuyo asked.

"A fireworks festival is going to be held next month!"

Ikumatsu clasped her hands together. "Really?! This is so exciting!"

"Right? Right? Hinowa-sama said that she's going to give us a day off for that day. She's going to let our guests know in advance. I can't wait to go. Will you two be going also?"

"Yes! I can't wait to go! I'm going to have to visit the seamstress." Ikumatsu said happily.

"I think I'll just stay here an' look after tha place. Hope ya guys have fun though. Well I'm gonna go dry mahself off properly." Tsukuyo waved while walking away.

"Tsukuyo-chan never seems to take a day off, right? It is such a good opportunity to and she's wasting it!"

"I agree!" the other woman said.

Ikumatsu looked at Tsukuyo with a concerned expression on her face. Like Hinowa, she cares deeply about her and would like her to consider her own feelings rather than always putting everyone before herself. I'm going to have to talk to Hinowa-san about this.

"Well we're going to get ready too. See you around Ikumatsu-chan!" The women parted from her after they exchanged their farewells.

Ikumatsu decided to walk over to Hinowa's room to talk. "Hinowa-san it's me Ikumatsu," she announced in front of her door.

"Come in."

Ikumatsu entered, closed the door after she entered, and sat down across from Hinowa.

"Is there something you need to talk to me about Ikumatsu-san?"

"It's about Tsukuyo-san."

Hinowa had a worried expression on her face. "Did something happen to Tsukuyo?"

Ikumatsu shook her head. "It's not that but more like how can we help her relax. We talked with other women about the fireworks festival and she said she won't be attending."

Hinowa let out a sigh. "That girl honestly. She's too stubborn."

"Why don't we come up with a way where she has to go? Will you be taking Seita?"

"I told Seita I would go with him but I don't know if I can keep up with him."

An idea went off in Ikumatsu's mind. "Why don't we ask Tsukuyo to take him? You can come hang out with us instead."

Hinowa's face lit up with excitement. "That's a great idea Ikumatsu-san. Tsukuyo can't say no to this request."

-x-

Gintoki came back to the palace humming and in a good mood. He saw Katsura waiting for him and walked up. "Yo Zura~"

"Gintoki where have you been?"

"Oh here and there," he replied with a small smile.

Katsura noticed the haori in his hand and facepalmed. "You were busy fooling around with a woman?"

"Oi do you take me for some kind of pervert? I don't fool around with women you know."

"Why is there a haori in your hand then? It certainly isn't yours."

"Long story. Just know that this haori is important. Make sure it's cleaned up nicely and returned to my room." He handed the haori over to Katsura.

"I'm not going to pry any further. I'll make sure it gets cleaned and returned. Let's go to the meeting right now."

Gintoki finally paid attention to the meeting this time. The meeting went smoothly and there were a lot of things discussed. Right before the meeting ended an official brought up a topic that everyone got interested in.

"Your majesty if you don't mind me asking, when are you planning to produce an heir? You are well over the age to have a kid. You should've had a couple by now. Do you need introductions to some nice young women?"

"That's right. If I may can you consider my daughter a candidate?"

"Mine too."

"Mine too Your majesty!"

Gintoki waved his hand back and forth. "I'm not interested."

"But Your majesty!"

"Gintoki-sama will greatly meet up with each of your daughters."

Gintoki glared at Katsura who looked back at him innocently. "Meeting ends here. Everyone leave."

Everyone except for Katsura exited out of the room.

"Zura what was that for?!"

"What do you mean Gintoki? They are right you know. You should consider meeting up with them just to see what they're like. Maybe you'll like one of them too."

"It's a waste of time Zura."

"We're already twenty five years old, Gintoki. We're not getting any younger. You should seriously start building a family. You've always wanted that. You told me how you want a lot of grandchildren too."

"My feelings haven't changed. I just haven't found the right person I have that connection with."

"You're not trying. You expect a woman you'll have an instant connection with to fall from the sky."

Suddenly Gintoki remembered that fateful day he bumped into that woman. "Maybe I have. I'll meet up with them, only if your nagging will stop."

"Hmph you have my word for it Gintoki. I'll let them know and set up dates."

After their conversation Gintoki walked back to his room and saw her haori neatly folded on his bed. He got the haori and lied down. He draped it over himself like a blanket. "Until we meet again mystery woman."

-x-

"Tsukuyo!"

Tsukuyo turned around and saw Hinowa walking towards her. Once she caught up the two of them walked together. Tsukuyo made sure to adjust her pace to Hinowa's.

"What's up Hinowa?"

"You heard about the fireworks festival, right?"

"Mhmm."

"I was wondering if you can look after Seita. You know how energetic he can be. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with him in the crowd. I don't want him to slow down because of me. Kids should be able to run around and have fun after all."

"That's no problem at all Hinowa. I'll look after Seita. Ya go enjoy tha festival."

"It's a deal then! You don't mind if I get you a kimono do you? The seamstress will be stopping by anytime within the next couple of days!"

"Ah, no, Hinowa ya don't have ta do that."

"I want to! Besides everyone else is dressing up. You'll stick out like a sore thumb if you don't wear something nice. Plus you might be able to find yourself a nice man who'll sweep you off your feet!" she said with a wink.

"H-Hinowa! Ya know I won't ever have feelin's fer a guy. I'm goin' ta stay here an' protect this place until tha day I die."

Hinowa giggled. "Tsukuyo you never know. Love is something you cannot control. It happens at the most unexpected times. You should never be afraid to embrace your feelings. I don't want you living here and protecting us for your entire life you know. I want you to have a life of your own and live life as a normal woman. Tsukuyo, it's okay to put your feelings first. It's okay to have a life of your own. It doesn't make you a selfish person you know. It's only natural."

"Hinowa thank ya but ya know I've already made up mah mind."

Hinowa internally sighed and smiled at her. "Just keep what I said in mind. Thank you for taking Seita. I'll be getting ready now. See you around Tsukuyo and thank you for your hard work as always."

Tsukuyo gave her a small smile. "It's just mah job. Have a safe night." Hinowa waved at her and went to prepare for the night. "Live mah own life huh?"