"KAGURA!"

Gintoki was seconds away from diving into the building himself. She'd been in there too long, if she didn't-

Oh thank god. There she was, in the window. A panicked look on her face, she leapt from the burning building, flames licking out of the window behind her. Shinpachi sighed in relief when she landed without hurting herself and Gintoki pulled her into a brief hug. He held her at arm's length when he felt something cold and solid between them. Looking down at her, he let out an exasperated sigh.

"Kagura, why did you save that?"

She pouted. "You worked hard on it, Gin-chan."

Gintoki was about to argue when he glanced over and saw the three main Shinsengumi members looking at the Yorozuya trio with a mixture of expressions. Sougo was smirking, Kondo looked slightly concerned but not entirely surprised and Hijikata… Hijikata looked somewhere between very worried and very pissed off, practically chewing on the cigarette in his mouth.

"Oi, Yorozuya. Why's your house on fire?"

"Umm. Well." Gintoki rubbed the back of his head bashfully, the curls shifting where his fingers settled, looking between the water being sprayed on the building and the man opposite him. He held up the object in his free hand, a tentative smile on his face.

"Surprise?"

There was pause of a few seconds while Hijikata peered at the object, trying to work out what it was. It was easy to see the exact moment it clicked. He blinked a couple of times. Behind him, Sougo was snickering. Hijikata took a long drag of his cigarette, casting his eyes towards the sky in a desperate plea to whatever deity would listen.

"You have got to be kidding me."

A few hours earlier…

Gintoki was in a good mood. Today was Hijikata's final check up with the doctor before he was going to be given the okay to go out again. Though this meant Gintoki couldn't see him every day like he had been doing (he'd miss that, he really would), it also meant that Hijikata would stop being so grumpy because he couldn't go and enforce the law in that shout-y aggressive way of his.

Because today was the big day, Gintoki had left Hijikata in peace and told him to come see him when his check up (and whatever else that needed doing) was done. This left him a couple of hours to come up with some kind of surprise. A "Glad you're better" gift. He just had absolutely no idea what to do.

Sat at his desk, Gintoki groaned and pressed his forehead into the wood. Maybe he should just do something simple. Like bake a cake. His head shot up and his eyes brightened. Yeah! He knew Hijikata didn't much like sweet things (a horrible crime that would soon be amended) but he could just add some mayonnaise if he wanted. Gintoki wasn't sure if he could stand to watch his beautiful cake drown a salty death, but he'd make allowances just this once.

With newfound purpose, he stood up and strode over to the fridge, swinging the door open with a broad smile on his face. Then he actually looked in the fridge. The smile dropped and, yet again, Gintoki found himself banging his head against a solid surface, this time the top of the fridge.

"Oh yeah. I forgot. I'm poor and live with a literal food vacuum."

"You called, Gin-chan?"

Kagura poked her head round the corner, a piece of sukonbu sticking out of her mouth as she chewed it.

Gintoki let out a long-suffering sigh, not lifting his head. "We're going shopping. Go find Shinpachi."

She let out a triumphant yell (leaving Gintoki wondering whether the fridge was empty just because she wanted new food) and dashed down the corridor, quickly reappearing with a tired and slightly harassed-looking Shinpachi.

"Right." Gintoki straightened up and set off in the direction of the door. "Come on kids, we're going on an adventure!"

"Gin-chan, we're only going to the shop. It'd be an adventure if we were going to find all the Dragon Balls."

Shinpachi looked over, scandalised. "Kagura-chan! We'll be sued!" He hurried forward to catch up with Gintoki (ignoring Kagura's muttered "no we won't") and made sure to lock the door behind them. It was only when they made it down the stairs to street level that he spoke again.

"Gin-san, why are we going shopping all of a sudden?"

Gintoki put on an affronted expression. "Are you questioning your fearless leader?"

"Always," Shinpachi deadpanned. "And you're not fearless. I remember when you thought there was a ghost in the house and refused to sleep here for a week."

"That was once!"

Shinpachi raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, fine!" He was quiet for a moment. "Twice."

"It's good to admit your faults, Gin-san. You'll build as a person." Gintoki opened his mouth to say something about rude kids but was interrupted. "Again, why are we going shopping?"

Gintoki rubbed the back of his neck, keeping an eye on the shop as it came into view at the end of the street. "We're out of food, Pattsuan, isn't that obvious?"

"Normally you let us starve?" Shinpachi sounded thoroughly confused and just a emtiny/em bit confused

"Do I?" He halted as he considered this. "Oh." He started walking again, speeding up so that he could grab what he needed and go.

"I've got some things I wanna get. Can I trust you to do the rest Pattsuan?" He didn't wait for a reply. "Thanks! You're a good kid." He ruffled Shinpachi's hair.

Picking up a basket from just inside the door, Gintoki power-walked further into the shop and disappeared down a random aisle.

Shinpachi sighed. He glanced over at Kagura, but she was already reaching out for a brightly coloured toy on the closest shelf. It was going to be a long trip.

Gintoki had it much easier. He rushed around, finding the cheapest versions of the things he needed and throwing them haphazardly into the basket (except the eggs, he wasn't a complete moron). He only hesitated in front of the shelf with all the condiments on it before deciding fuck it and throwing the mayonnaise in the basket as well. Luckily, he had just enough money to pay for it all and as he walked out of the shop, he felt the good mood from earlier returning. He was going to make a cake, Hijikata would like it and it would all be-

Wait.

Gintoki squinted. Was that- Yep. Shit.

He momentarily froze, then started sprinting down the street, ducking into a side street when he thought he'd gone far enough. He glanced into the bags to make sure he hadn't lost anything but groaned when he saw a shadow fall over him. He looked up and glared at the man currently standing in the entrance to the alleyway with his arms folded.

"Zura."

"It's not Zura, it's Katsura."

Katsura tilted his head, the hat he usually wore when he was out firmly planted on his head, and Gintoki inwardly winced. As stupid as Katsura could be, he also had an annoying habit of picking up things that had changed about people. He was the last person he wanted to run into today.

"Gintoki. Friend. Brother in arms."

"That was years ago, Zura."

"Don't interrupt me when I'm speaking." He frowned. "Why didn't you tell me you were cavorting with the enemy?"

"Who's the enemy this time? I'm busy, Zura."

"It's not Zura, it's Katsura. And you know who I mean. You can't lie to me Gintoki."

Gintoki glared, but leaned back against the wall. This could take a while.

"If you're talking about the thing with Hijikata-"

"I am."

"-then you don't need to worry. He's not the enemy. He's actually quite clingy once he relaxes. It's cute."

Katsura blinked. Then he wrinkled his nose. "Ugh, I didn't need to hear you describe the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi as cute. You know what? You'll be fine." He spun around and made to leave the alleyway. "I expect weekly updates on Shinsengumi business!"

"I don't work for you, Zura!" Gintoki smirked. "And you don't need to worry about me!" There was no reply, but he knew that he'd heard. He made sure he had his bags and jogged the short distance to the Yorozuya flat.

Time to start that cake.

Gintoki had about half an hour of peace (in which he organised the fridge and made the batter) when things started going wrong. Thing one: Kagura and Shinpachi coming back. More specifically, Kagura coming back. The second she smelt the cake mix (her nose was scarily attuned to food), she sprinted into the kitchen and leapt onto the counter, landing in a crouch and staring at Gintoki, piece of sukonbu still in her mouth but now significantly smaller.

"Why didn't you tell us you were making cake, Gin-chan?"

He didn't look up, choosing to give the batter a last mix. "Because it's not for you."

"Rude."

"Not as rude as you."

Shinpachi chose this moment to step in. "Who is it for then, Gin-san?"

Gintoki hesitated. "Hijikata."

Kagura made gagging noises, briefly looking away from the cake batter to pretend to vomit into the sink. Gintoki rolled his eyes but turned away to look for a tray to put the mix in.

"Where did I put it?" He muttered to himself.

"Kagura-chan!"

He looked back at Shinpachi's exclamation to see Kagura clutching the bowl of cake mix, about to dip one finger in. Gintoki let out a screech and dived for her. She neatly rolled out of the way, but accidentally flicked the hob on with her foot. This was thing two that went wrong. It wouldn't have been too bad, but the hob was relatively old, so was one of those self-lighting ones. This probably wouldn't have been terrible, but someone had left a towel on the hob which just happened to also be resting on the wooden window frame.

The towel erupted into flames.

Everyone froze. Kagura was still clutching the bowl, Gintoki's hands were still reaching for her and Shinpachi was stood stock still, glasses flickering in the new firelight. They stayed like that for a second until the fire leapt up to the ceiling, causing the wood to creak. Then they all moved. Gintoki pushed Shinpachi towards the corridor, only looking back to make sure Kagura was following. It was because of this that he saw the exact moment the beam above the doorway fell, trapping her inside the kitchen.

"Kagura!"

He went to do something (he wasn't sure what, but anything to help her) when her voice sounded from the other side of the doorway.

"Gin-chan! I'm fine. Get out!"

He hesitated.

"Go!"

With a growl, he turned and sprinted out of the door and down the stairs. Fuck.

The present

Hijikata stared at the bowl.

"Are you serious? You burnt down your flat because you were making cake? For me?"

Gintoki nodded. "Pretty much."

Hijikata felt his cheeks heating up so looked away. Only this idiot.

"I thought you said you were a good cook."

"I am! It was all Kagura's fault!" The silver-haired man pulled the bowl back into his chest, hugging it protectively and pouting slightly. "I was going to let you share this but now I won't. You've insulted me."

He stomped over to the pavement opposite the Yorozuya flat and sat on the curb, staring forlornly at the cake mix. After a brief pause, he dipped his finger in and tasted the mix, offering a slight satisfied smile before dipping in again.

Hijikata looked after him blankly. He turned to the other Shinsengumi members for support but Sougo was chasing after Kagura yelling something obscene and Kondo was staring at the still burning flat like he had no idea what to do with it (which was probably true). Looks like he was on his own for this one.

He casually walked over to the curb and sat next to his boyfriend, groaning slightly as his side stretched. He'd been given the go-ahead to leave the barracks, but that didn't mean he was perfectly healthy.

"Go away." Gintoki dipped his finger into the mix again, sticking it in his mouth before he spoke again. "I'm sulking."

Hijikata resisted the urge to smile. "I can see that."

"Then leave me alone. Let a man sulk in peace."

"What if I wanted to try some of the cake mix?"

Gintoki squinted at him, finally pulling the finger from his mouth. "You don't like sweet things."

Hijikata raised an eyebrow. "You made me a cake. Or tried to."

"I was going to add mayonnaise to it. I know you can't appreciate true art, so I was dumbing it down for you."

The raven-haired man scoffed, an argument ready as to why mayonnaise was a gift to mankind from the gods, when a bowl filled his vision.

Gintoki was looking at him expectantly. "Go on then."

He hesitantly dipped his finger in and licked at the cake mixture before it could drip off his finger. His eyes widened in surprise.

"It's good."

Gintoki's face broke into the biggest smile he'd ever seen and he found himself thinking that he'd do anything to keep that smile on his face (and then squashing that though because he wasn't a teenager anymore).

"Really? Even without mayonnaise?"

"Really." Hijikata scooped up some more, sticking his whole finger in his mouth to make sure he got it all.

It was only when he'd done this twice more that he noticed Gintoki looking at him strangely, eyes intensely focused on his movements. Hijikata shifted under the attention.

"What?" He snapped.

"Nothing. Just thinking."

Gintoki dipped his finger into the bowl and held it towards Hijikata who just looked from it to the face of the person it was attached to.

"Aren't you going to eat that?"

The silver-haired man smirked. "I made it for you. You eat it."

Hijikata flushed, unsure whether it was from embarrassment or anger. "I don't know where your fingers have been."

What? That's not what he meant to say. He meant to say no. What was wrong with him?

"In this bowl. You gonna eat it or not?"

Hijikata swallowed. Fuck it. He leaned forward and gave the finger an experimental lick, turning an even darker shade of red. He heard Gintoki stifle a giggle and glared. He'd show him. He surged forward and briefly took the entire finger into his mouth, licking all of the mix off and pulling back, wiping the back of his hand against his lips.

Gintoki was still staring at his finger and Hijikata smirked (even though he was still mostly pink, he couldn't believe he'd just done that oh my god don't panic now's not the time)

"Still tastes good, Yorozuya."

Gintoki looked over, eyes slightly unfocused. Suddenly, he seemed to snap back to reality and a broad smirk spread over his face, causing Hijikata's own to falter.

"Enjoy that Vice-Commander?" He leaned forward until his lips brushed Hijikata's ear when he spoke. "Looking forward to the real thing? Or maybe just practising?"

Hijikata shoved his now laughing boyfriend away and stood up, ear burning from where Gintoki's lips had touched.

"F-fuck off." Damn it.

He stalked off in the direction the barracks, swiping at Sougo when he asked why he was so red. Gintoki rocked backwards, still giggling to himself, and ate some more of the mix.

"It is good, that's true."

He watched his boyfriend leave and smiled again. Today hadn't gone to plan. At all. His flat had burnt down for god's sake. But it hadn't been all bad.

This relationship had started off as an impromptu meeting of two men who never should have liked each other in the first place, never mind fallen in love. But hate grew to respect and turned to understanding and now here they were. Happy together.

They weren't perfectly comfortable yet (Hijikata wasn't at least), but Gintoki had hope that all of this was going to turn out alright in the end. Yeah. Everything was going to be okay.