As with all married couples, whether they are real or not, a routine eventually develops. This happened to Gin and Tae as well. Kagura moved into the Shimura house after a week had passed and life went back to its regular schedule. Gin was the first up and made breakfast, a welcome change for Shinpachi. The fact that he made delicious food was one of the main reasons he finally warmed up to Gin as a brother. After breakfast, Tae would clean up and start her regular chores while the yorozuya trio went off to do whatever job they could find for the day. They often returned before Tae left for work and would eat dinner (cooked by Gin) all together. Gin, Kagura, and Shinpachi would all be asleep by the time Tae came back from the club (and the constant teasing about her husband).

The first six months of their marriage passed this way, in a happy routine. Both Gin and Tae, believing the other to not be interested in them, had spent those six months pretending to be a couple in front of Kagura, Shinpachi, and all the rest of their friends, but denying their true feelings. It had been six months of torture for the both of them. Every move seemed to be both a declaration of love and reassurance that their feelings were not reciprocated.

However, this dancing around of feelings was about to be shattered along with Shinpachi's leg. Another one of Prince Hata's ridiculously-sized pets had escaped, and once again, the yorozuya had been called upon to stop its rampage. It had taken several hours (as well as several destroyed buildings) before the creature had been stopped, captured, and hauled back to the Prince. Unfortunately, one of the injuries resulting from the monster's rampage had included Shinpachi, who had suffered a severe compound fracture. The bone poked disgustingly through the skin of his shin and Gin had to force back his gag reflex.

Gin and Kagura had immediately taken Shinpachi to the hospital only to run into a huge problem. An injury like Shinpachi's required surgery and anesthesia, both of which, because Shinpachi was a minor, needed a parental or guardian signature. Gin argued with the doctor furiously, but he was resolute. Shinpachi was lying in the hospital bed, white as the sheets surrounding him, the look of pain on his face impossible to ignore. Gin swore.

"I'll go get Tae. I'll be right back."

It was rush hour so Gin ignored all of the taxis gridlocked in the streets and ran all the way to Tae's club. Hijikata had tried to stop him, but Gin merely planted his foot in the older man's gut, sent him flying into the river, and continued. He was stopped at the entrance of the club by the bouncer the owner had hired recently.

"I need to see Tae right away. It's her brother."

Though the bouncer was burly and at least two feet taller than Tae, he, too, was terrified of her and let Gin in immediately. He hurried through the booths, looking desperately for his wife. He found her, feeling a swell of anger and jealousy as she poured a drink for a rather creepy looking middle-aged man. He vaulted over a booth and landed next to Tae.

"Tae. It's Shinpachi. He's in the hospital and they need family permission to give him anesthesia for surgery."

Tae had already jumped up at "It's Shinpachi". Her customer immediately grabbed her wrist to stop her.

"I'm still here, you aren't allowed to leave," he growled. Tae raised her fist to destroy the bastard keeping her from her hurt brother but she was cut off by Gin's sword flashing through her vision. In a split second, Gin had the point of his bokuto pointed right between the bastard's eyes, a millimeter away from the skin.

"Get your filthy hand off of my wife," he said quietly, but with a hint of anger. The man immediately let go of both Tae and his bladder control. Gin grabbed Tae's hand and they ran out of the club. On their way out, Gin noticed that things had gotten very quiet during the encounter and everyone watched them on their way out. Except for Tae, whose focus was solely on her brother.

They made it back to the hospital in record time. Tae was fine, but after two long runs, Gin nearly passed out in Shinpachi's room. Tae managed not to kill the doctor and signed all of the necessary paperwork with lightning speed and soon enough, Shinpachi was rushed into surgery, but not after being sedated. The three were left waiting in the emergency room as another unfortunate victim of the earlier rampage took the room.

Gin sat between the two women, one of which was, unfortunately, very emotional during emergencies. Kagura almost immediately feel asleep against Gin's shoulder, but Tae remained awake during the entire surgery, despite her fatigue. Gin stayed up with her, holding her hand as she did her best to remain strong for Shinpachi. Both of them were so concerned about the younger boy they didn't even pay attention to their intertwined hands.

By the time the surgery was complete, it was well past visiting hours so they were not allowed to see Shinpachi. There were assured that he had a room and that they would be allowed to visit him in the morning and then they were sent home. Kagura was still sleeping so Gin carried her all the way home. He couldn't help but feel, now that Shinpachi's safety was assured and he could afford himself the luxury to be worrying about his marital state, that he and Tae looked rather like a family right about now, returning home from somewhere late, carrying their sleeping child. Gin shook off those thoughts quickly, but they returned again and again, escalating in annoyance.

He had decided, by the time he had tucked Kagura into her futon, that he didn't care anymore. He didn't care about Tae's reaction or the disgust she was sure to show him when he told her, but he couldn't hold back anymore. He couldn't keep pretending to be the happy newlyweds when they weren't. He was going to confess to her, whether she liked it or not. He at least needed closure. Even if she shot him down and broke his heart, at least then his heart would be broken and he could start to mend it. Gin just needed an answer. Now.

Gin took a deep breath before sliding open the door to their bedroom and entering.

"Tae, I need to talk to you."

Or that was what he meant to say, anyway. Tae cut him off halfway through.

"Gin." She sounded serious and Gin gulped. "I need to tell you something that's been bothering me for months. I thought I could just live with it, but I can't. Ever since we got married, I can't help but feel attracted to you and I think I might even be in love with you."

Gin gaped at her.

"And I finally decided that I want you to know how I feel, even if you don't feel the same. I'd rather just know than torture myself constantly thinking about it." Tae had avoided his eyes up until then, but now she looked up. There was a moment of awkward silence.

"Well, aren't you going to say something?" she prodded. Gin was shaken out of his stupor.

"NO FAIR!"

Tae jumped in shock. That wasn't one of the two reactions she had expected at all.

"'No fair'?" she repeated. Gin sulked.

"I was just about to say pretty much the same thing to you. You stole my monologue! I'm still the hero, you know! Uncool, Tae," he said, crossing his arms and pouting.

Smiling, Tae hit him in the shoulder before wrapping her arms around him and burying her face into his chest. Gin reciprocated, relishing the feeling of his wife hugging him. They remained that way for a few moments before, as if on cue, they both turned to each other and Gin softly kissed Tae.