- L'oreille est le chemin du cœur -
The sun was warmly shining upon Yoshiwara, lightening its still quiet streets that slowly grew busy with people.
Gintoki had politely refused the mouth-watering breakfast that Hinowa had prepared for the three of them, but she kept asking him so 'nicely' to stay that somehow, he couldn't refuse her invitation any longer...
-By the way, Gin-san...
He hummed while chewing at a daikon's slice from his soup.
-Did you sleep well?
Startled, he choked himself at her obvious allusion and coughed to retrieve his breath.
-Well... I was quite drunk last night so, yeah, I slept well! Very well!
-Is that so? I'm so happy to hear it!
He shivered at her creepy smile and killer eyes.
-And you, Tsukuyo-chan? Wasn't it too hard to hear Gin-san snore all night long?
The blonde casually swallowed her tea and put her cup back on the table with composure.
-I din' hear anythin'.
Glaring at the brunette, she added;
-Did ya, Hinowa?
The courtesan's eyes widened, blinking at her usually shy friend's behavior who was careless about the samurai's discomfort and colder than ever.
-Um... no, not really... she conceded.
-I see.
An awkward silence fell upon them and no one dared to say a word anymore.
~...~
Tsukuyo walked Gintoki to the door when the time for goodbyes came.
She remembered the time he wanted her to kiss him, saying that lovers had to do that kind of thing whenever they wanted to say 'hello' or 'goodbye' to each other.
When he had put on his buckled boots, she gently tugged at his sleeve for him to turn around. With the help of the shikidai's height on which she was standing, she put a light kiss on his cheek.
He eyed her, somewhat shocked.
-What? She asked.
-We aren't just friends, you know?
She rolled her eyes and next, caught his shirt's collar to drag him a bit lower and reach his lips for another smooch.
He grinned at her.
-Wh-what now? She groaned, slightly blushing.
-You sure learn fast, he stated.
She snorted.
Approaching his face closer, he cocked his head just as if he was about to kiss her.
-Dauntless yet so obedient... he whispered.
With a mere inch between their lips, she could feel his breath and see his tongue when he talked. That silver-idiot was so annoying when he teased her like this... Even more when he could read her thoughts so easily.
-Shaddup, she mumbled.
-Like a real tsunder-
She silenced him with her mouth by pulling harder at his collar. Defeated but quite satisfied, he let his hands rest on her hips and bumped into the wooden step when trying to come closer.
Just then, the door opened and Seita, who just came back from his night at a friend's house, witnessed the whole scene.
-Tsu-Tsukuyo-nee...?
The blonde turned her head to look at the boy, slowly releasing the black fabric from her hands.
-Oh, Seita! Welcome back.
-Um... Tadaima~
The boy shifted his eyes to the silver-haired samurai, trying to understand what had just happened before his very eyes.
-H-Hello Gin-san...
-Hi~ Seita-kun...
Scratching the back of his head, the man looked away as if nothing happened.
-Um... Tsukuyo-nee...
-Yes?
-What were you doing...? Gin-san and you, just now...
-Hmm? Juss sayin' goodbye to each other, she shrugged.
His eyebrow raised doubtfully.
-By kissing?
-Oh, that's 'cuz we're goin' out, she replied, waving casually her hand.
-Heh?! Fo-For real?! Gin-san, is that true?! Asked the boy, somewhat scared.
Straightening his back and puffing his chest, Gintoki pulled at his collar like a big shot. Having cleared his throat, he replied somewhat proudly;
-This is grown-up stuff. But yes, that's true.
Watching him fooling around when he was obviously embarrassed just a second ago, Tsukuyo sighed in her head.
The boy kept silent just the time for his brain to record the information.
-Yeah! I'm so happy! Now Gin-san's my big bro! Welcome in the family Gin-nichan!
-Ni-nichan...? He voiced uneasy.
Seita disappeared beyond the entrance to meet his mother, letting the two lovers alone.
-I knew it, announced the samurai.
-Knew what?
-You're definitely not Tsuku-
She kindly smacked the back of his head before he could finish.
-Hey!
-I'm still the same, dumbass, she confirmed. I juss decided I wouldn' hide no more.
-What do you mean?
-I don' care what people might think 'bout us no more, whoeva they are.
His eyes widened.
-Wow... I never expected you to put up your boldness to every- ouch!
She smacked him again.
-After all, she continued, "We're in the same buz'ness, here", right, darlin'?
He turned away while mumbling and swearing to himself in a vain attempt to hide the obvious blush on his cheeks. Proud to have the last word over him, she smirked at how embarrassed he could be sometimes for so trivial things.
He slid the door open and frowned at the shining sun. Waiting for him to step out, she rested her hand on the handle.
Before she could close the door behind him, he grabbed her waist and kissed her without warning. Startled at first, she then closed her eyes and kissed him back.
-When will I see you again? He breathed against her lips.
She let out a long sated sigh and looked at him.
-I dunno
-That's not good, honey...
She smiled and sniffed faintly.
-I'll call ya when I'll hav' som' time.
-You're that busy with work? He asked, suspicious.
-With the Bakufu's state, thugs in learnin' are everywhere...
Her words brought him back to the harsh reality like a stab in his chest. Loosening his arms, he took a step back and gradually felt her warmth disappears.
He wished for the world to turn round again so he could come back to his previous lazy life and enjoy more peaceful time with her.
Noticing the sudden change in his face's expression, she took his hand and hooked their pinky together.
-We'll see each other b'fore the next week
-That means 5 days, he voiced in low spirits.
-Ya have my word
Five long possible days to wait... Why did it seem like an eternity to him? How did she manage to affect him so much?
He tried to cheer himself up, thinking it would help him to keep a certain freedom, but... he wasn't really that eager to be free if it meant being alone without her...
He sighed mentally.
~...~
Now that Gintoki had left and Seita was in his room, Tsukuyo helped Hinowa to wash the remaining dishes.
-That reminds me, Tsukuyo...
-Hmm?
-You didn't answer my question. Did you sleep well? She asked softly.
The blonde looked at her sister and friend, before answering earnestly with a gentle smile on her lips.
-I fell right in the arms of Morpheus an' slept like a baby.
-Did Morpheus have silver permed hair?
She waited a brief moment before to sniff faintly and admit simply;
-Indeed.
The courtesan's eyes narrowed, her smile enlightening her pale face.
-You know, yesterday I prepared a double futon in your room and a simple one in Seita's room, just in case...
-Wha-?
-In all honesty, it was more of a joke, especially knowing the both of you... she confessed. Never, would I think that you two would really agree to sleep together, even if you're officially going out... I'm really sorry for that.
-Hinowa...
-But I can tell just by looking at you right now, that you seem to be the happiest woman in the world, so... I don't regret any of my deeds! She smiled, unabated. But... I still hope that someday, both you and Gin-san will forgive me...
-Don' worry. In my case, ya neva needed to be forgiven.
-Awww, Tsukuyo-dear...
-Though I ain't sure 'bout him... she pointed out.
The two women both looked at each other and softly laughed, remembering the poor samurai's mishap.
-So? Asked eagerly the brunette.
-So what?
-Did you do it? I mean, you and Gin-san... ?
-Hi-Hinowa!
Despite her resolve and strong will to not care about people, she blushed. Tsukuyo couldn't stop herself to feel awfully self-conscious to talk about their private moments to someone, even her closest friend.
-It's okay, you can tell me everything, reassured the brunette, her eyes somewhat gleaming.
-Well, it's...
-You can't teach an old dog new tricks, you know? I'm still the best courtesan of all Yoshiwara...
-Ugh... I beg ya...
-Oww, was it that bad? And here I thought that Gin-san was-
-'Course not!
Realizing she just confessed the act, the blonde flushed red.
A bit stunned but still happy -and proud, of course- to learn that the little girl who had so long ago 'thrown' a part of herself away had finally blossomed into a full woman, the Hinowa grinned. She certainly never expected the shy Shinigami Dayuu to move so fast.
"She must really love him"
-So... You mean that it was good, then? She dug further.
Red like a tomato, Tsukuyo could almost feel the steam coming out of her head.
She mumbled something but Hinowa didn't hear her words.
-Hmm? She hummed innocently.
The blonde sighed heavily. Knowing that the situation might easily worsen, she had to have the last word.
-It's private, she voiced while clearing her throat.
Gintoki walked off through the streets of the underground city, the pleasant feeling of a certain deadly courtesan's plump lips still lingering on his.
"Yoshiwara's women sure are something" he thought to himself. "Every last one of them..." he stated, remembering after the blonde-haired one, a less pleasant brunette courtesan...
Despite his previous troubles, he couldn't get Tsukuyo out of his head... how unusual of him!
The samurai wasn't really the kind of guy to commit himself into a relationship... quite the opposite in fact. Outside the bedroom, women were nothing but troubles and his laziness couldn't support much troubles... That always was the main reason behind his policy of never going back to bed with the same woman.
Well, not like the women around him could actually prove that he was wrong!
Kagura was an incredibly strong and gluttony brat who was a girl only by name. He wondered if Mutsu, behind her deadpan face and unfriendly character, was also obsessed with food...
Otose was way too old to even be called a woman anymore... more like a smoking fossil in fact.
Tama wasn't an earthling either and even less a human being. Well, just like that creepy cat-like Amanto, he thought.
He got goose bumps just thinking about her face –was it only female to begin with?
"Whatever, forget it"
Otae was a bit too young for his taste. She had no boobs whatsoever, but an inhuman strength instead. She was easily jealous and of bad faith, as well as a skilled cook for anyone wishing to die.
"The hell with this burnt black tamagoyaki fetish anyway?!" Suddenly, he felt sick.
Kyuubei was as young as Otae, meaning too young, albeit she had nice boobs. But she was clearly too obsessed with her childhood friend and really disgusted with men. Well, that is aside for their b*lls, of course...
*gulp*
He wiped off a drop of cold sweat.
Sa-chan was...
"ARGH! Forget about that crazy M already!" He was pissed just thinking about her.
He hadn't seen the kunoichi since a rather long time and honestly, he thanked God, Bouddha and whatever came to his mind.
"Ah." But, perhaps the stalker had seen him and Tsukuyo together?
"Tch!" Serves her right.
He just hoped she had killed herself in the river to drown her grief.
Hinowa was a woman that couldn't be described with others words than the one he was currently thinking about.
"Meddlesome, mischievous, dangerous, violent... Hmm... what else?"
Perhaps, he admitted things like "a good mother, a good friend, a caring soul and a beautiful woman".
Well, in fact...
"Naaah!" Definitely not.
Just when he thought that the only remaining woman was no one else but Tsukuyo, the elevator chimed, taking him out of his thoughts.
Back on the surface, he followed his path and thought it would be a beautiful day as the sun was-
"AH!"
Gintoki has the habit to tune on the TV every single day for one reason only; Ketsuno Ana's weather report. Though it wasn't really a matter of forecast here, but more a way for him to see the shining smile of the weather lady, Ketsuno Crystel.
Hasty, his peaceful stroll turned into a sporty jog in order to find a screen, a TV or anything able to retransmit the show.
Then, he fell upon an electronic store exposing all sorts of trendy and high-tech televisions in its showcase. The forecast was over, but there was still the horoscope to come, hopefully.
[…And now for the Libras. You guys might feel a bit lonely for the time to come but there's no need to fret. Surely the skies will clear your heart with a downpour of love. Please everyone, if time makes it hard for you, be sure to take a good look at the moon and reflect over your life. I'm sure if you all pray with a smile on your face, your wish will be granted.]
The silver-haired samurai wondered why the weather lady's words sounded neither good nor bad to him, while she seemed to directly stare at him through the TV.
"What's that supposed to mean anyway?"
Slightly taken aback by his horoscope, he once again resumed his steps through the busy streets of Edo, walking at an idle pace.
Then, the signboard of a nearby combini suddenly rang a bell in his head. He entered the shop looking for the last Shōnen Jump.
~...~
-Tadaima~
-Gin-san! Where have you been so early in the morning?
-Shinpachi... grumbled the samurai. What day is it today?
-Huh? Well, it's Mond-
-WRONG!
-Wha-?
-It's the release day of JUMP, deadpanned the Yato.
-Right, right! He nodded proudly. Geez, you won't go anywhere in life if you don't even know that, Shinpachi-kun!
-Wait, how could it even matter?! Right before me is the living proof that JUMP won't get you anywhere to begin with! Scolded the four-eyes.
-HAH?! What do-
-Gin-chan, what's in your bag? Interrupted the girl.
-Oh, right!
He emptied the contents of the plastic bag on the table. Among the various type of food –mainly sweets like flan, strawberry milk and such- stood a cardboard box.
-What's this? Asked the kids in unison.
He eyed the both of them and sighed heavily.
-A new bulb for my room...
Please everyone, don't beat me for badmouthing Tsukuyo's rivals... but let's face it: I only said the truth XD