Don't eat all the dango at once or you'll choke

It was one of those lazy afternoons when a request came in for the Odd Jobs. It was Hinowa, and it seemed serious.

"Tsukki hasn't returned for the past few days. She gave us a letter that she was leaving, but I didn't believe it was really from her. Odd Jobs, do you think you could track her down and tell her to come home?"

Gin narrowed his eyes, it was unusual of course. "She wouldn't leave unless it was for a reason."

Hinowa seemed deeply concerned. "Ever since she came back from the hospital, she seemed...different."

"How so?" Shinpachi asked.

"She would drink jugs of strawberry milk and throw it all back up. She would get distracted by round shiny things. And she kept herself isolated from us."

"Are you sure that's not Gin-chan you're talking about," asked Kagura.

She laughed. "If that was Gin-san, I wouldn't be worried at all."

"Hey, what does that mean"

"Anyway, I would like you guys to try to figure out where she had gone." She then added. "Please bring her home and tell her to confide in us even if it means she's a warlord scheming to take over the universe."

"No, I think that's when we should reconsider the situation." Gin returned.

"Ah I see," said Hinowa. "Or pregnant with the feudal lord's child."

"What kind of person do you think Tsukki is mom," said Seita listening in.

"Tsukki is Tsukki, no matter what situation she is in," said Hinowa. "The fact that this is her home will not change."

"That's right" Gin grinned before turning to Shinpachi and Kagura. "I'll search at the south end. Shinpachi and Kagura, you guys check near the entrance if anyone like Tsukuyo passed by."

"Alright," responded both.

X

It had been a few days since Tsukuyo had begun her journey. The sun seemed to beat at her back like a yoke on a bull. She was feeling more constantly fatigued than she expected. She sighed, I guess this is how it feels to truly be a woman, falling in love and be willing to carry their child. If this was going to be her life, she was willing to accept it.

Her thoughts began to be flooded with the potential of the child. She could raise the child and bring them to the Odd Jobs to raise. She would bring them a money and tell them that the mother was a woman she met in Yoshiwara and that she couldn't take care of the child. Tsukuyo paused in her thoughts, Hinowa would find out quickly. Or if she took the child home…

Her head began to throb, the sun seemed to be getting to her. She rested as soon as she found a small tea shop.

"Ma'm what will it be?"

"Tea and dango," replied Tsukuyo.

"Right away"

Once her order arrived, she reached for the dango. However to her surprise another hand seemed to grab it.

"Hey what are you—" but she was too shocked to finish her sentence.

It was the silver haired samurai sitting beside her as if nothing was out of place. He wore his usual expression as he faced her. "Yo, Tsukuyo, it took long enough to find you."

"Gin" She felt sad, she failed to run from home successfully and also couldn't even stop herself from falling for a man. It felt like he was rubbing that failure in her face. "Why did you come here?"

"Hinowa is worried for you," said Gin. "What are earth are you doing running away like this?"

Tsukuyo was tempted to tell him the truth. No, she can't, her resolve was weakening and she couldn't stop that. "I—" but her words got caught in her throat, she felt like hurling.

"Tsukuyo? Hey what's wrong?"

She raised a hand in defense. "I'm fine, I just need to vomit."

A few moments later she returned from the restroom. The owner's wife had given her a helping hand and rubbed her back as she threw up.

"Morning sickness?"

Tsukuyo replied weakly. "Yes, I suppose that's what it is."

"I have some ginger candies that may help," said the owner's wife. "It works wonders when I was pregnant."

"Oh no, it's alright I appreciate it," said Tsukuyo as she began to return to her spot.

Gin was still there finishing off her dango. He looked confused. "Your sickness hasn't gotten away? Why are you traveling in such a condition?"

"I have my reasons," responded Tsukuyo. "There are some burdens I can't share with even you guys."

He sighed as he picked this teeth with the dango stick. "Fine, I won't ask, but at least let Hinowa know what's happening. She worries about you a lot."

Tsukuyo bit her lower lip. He was right, Hinowa was family to her, leaving as she did was going to be unfair to her. "Gin"

"Hmm?"

"Would you mind delivering a letter to her?"

Gin looked visibly upset. "I'm not here to be your messenger Tsukuyo. The other brats are worried for you too. They miss you too."

Tsukuyo felt her heart wrenching, she was feeling overly emotional again. She loved her home after all. She was tempted to tell him the truth again. "Gintoki I…"

"Excuse me ma'am." The owner's wife appeared with a bag. "Please take these, I hope they ease your morning sickness."

Tsukuyo turned pale. She thanked her timidly and tried to avoid making eye contact with Gin.

The owner's wife smiled at the both of them. "Good luck with you both."

Once she was gone, Gin echoed her words. "Morning sickness?"

Tsukuyo sighed and finally gave in. "Yes"

"Don't tell me...you're pregnant?

She tensed up her shoulders and nodded.

"Tsukuyo, this is more of a reason to go home. You shouldn't carry such a burden all on your own." Gin spoke exasperatedly.

Tsukuyo couldn't face him, not after all she had worked up for. "Gintoki I…" she repeated the words in her mind. The child is yours. The words did not exit her mouth.

"What is it? Out with it"

She shook her head. "No it's nothing"

"So will you go home?"

Tsukuyo couldn't find any words.

Gin sighed. "I won't push you, at least get enough to eat for two people. Let me find a room for you to rest in."

"...okay, thank you"

X

Gin was surprisingly thoughtful of Tsukuyo he brought her a meal at a local family diner and booked a room at a nearby hotel.

That night despite sharing separate futons, Tsukuyo couldn't sleep. She felt like a woman again, there was a longing to be closer to Gin than he already was. It wasn't like they were in an shoujo where there was only one futon. She was a women from Yoshiwara, that kind of situation would not have seemed romantic at all. If anything, Gin's consideration of her was the most romantic thing anyone could've done for her.

She then crawled out of her futon and loomed over Gin. She bent down towards his neck as her hand wrapped around the other side.

Gin grabbed her hand, he was very much awake. "What are you doing?"

"Returning the favor," responded Tsukuyo retracting slowly. "Isn't this how women do it?"

"Wait, wait, I'm not looking for a return," said Gin averting his gaze awkwardly. "Not all women repay men with their bodies.

"Really? What do women on the surface do?" Tsukuyo was genuinely confused. "Do their commit seppuku instead?"

"No that's something else entirely," said Gin. He sat up as Tsukuyo set herself aside. "What's on your mind now?"

She averted her gaze. "I feel like I'm burdening you. I'm thankful that you're doing this all for me, but there's nothing I can give back to you. It's not like you're going to need money since Hinowa is the one who hired you after all."

Gin raised a brow. "Do you think that's the only reason why I chose to help you?" He sighed. "There's nothing wrong with depending on other people despite how ridiculous the reason may be. I even tell Shinpachi and Kagura the problems I have with Jump characters. It doesn't mean anything and they probably get fed up with me when I talk about them all throughout the anime. But the point is that I don't chose to carry burdens if I can help it, it's not the way I chose to live."

Tsukuyo smiled faintly. Despite how ridiculous the example was, he was making a good point. "What about your master? Is that something you're willing to share with them?"

"How do you…?"

"You mentioned him during that fight against my master. I never brought myself to ask you since it seemed like a sore topic."

He seemed visibly shaken.

Tsukuyo quickly bit her tongue back. "Sorry you don't have to answer that."

"That's the only thing I can't share with them. It's not like I'm not willing to share about it, it's just a burden I don't think they need to know about."

She regretted asking him since he made such a face but she was thankful nonetheless that he was honest with her. "You could tell me, I don't mind hearing you out at least." She added and took out a buddha statue from who knows where. "If it's a burden I'll erase it from my mind with this stone buddha I found outside the hotel."

"Your conviction is admirable but frightening please put that away," said Gin feeling slightly scared from hearing her complete willingness. "It's kind of a long story if you're feeling like staying up."

Tsukuyo shook her head. "I don't mind at all."