Wow, this chapter is a beast! Serious stuff is going down, beware. I want to again thank all my readers for their love, its much appreciated!

Ok, now another question and answer.

No Tsukuyo is not a virgin, she's got some experience under her belt ;)

And about Hijikata, I am taking a lot of personal liberties with him here. Nonetheless, I feel that if everything in the universe had worked out right in the original Gintama world, then Gintoki and Hijikata could have become good friends. I can sense the bromance in the air for those two. Also, as a reviewer mentioned, if Hijikata was as stoic to Gintoki in this story as he was in the original then where would be the fun in that.

Also, some characters may pop up now or then but right now the leading line up is just Gintoki and Tsukuyo. Ill probably throw more OCs in the fic that dont play that large a role, the plot has to get moving somehow!

End of rant! Enjoy the chapter guys!

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING

A swarm of bodies migrated towards the subway door; a chaotic yet routine part of any morning commute. The body heat emanating from the crowd caused Gintoki to sweat in his hastily thrown on dress shirt and slacks. Yesterday's lack of peaceful sleep did not help his mood either. He felt groggy and exhausted, an awful combination to be attending work in. He reclined in his hard-won subway seat and leaned his head against the glass window of the cart. In hindsight, he foresaw this outcome, anyone with half a brain would know that drinking the night before work was a terrible mistake. He and the violent woman only intended to wallow away their misery of single-hood with a single glass of wine, but alas, that glass soon turned into the whole bottle. And did you know that the violent woman hid a stash of vintage wine in the drawers beneath her sink? Well she did and it was very well stocked. Mental note to self, he needed to buy an impenetrable lock for that drawer. Alcohol was too dangerous for them, it always led to something more. The regret he felt in the mornings also gnawed at him. Call him old fashioned but good old Gintoki-sensei was a firm believer in monogamy. While there was no other women in his life, tragically besides Otose and his students, the concept of sleeping with a woman, of whom he considered friend at this point, somehow bothered his sense of morality. Gintoki closed his eyes for a brief moment; this wasn't a topic to think about on the train ride to school. He wondered if the violent woman ever thought about these things like he did.

Turning on his laptop, Gintoki opened a word document and pretended to edit some documents for his next lecture. Truth be told, he wanted to do nothing more than take a nap. Since that seemed like a scolding waiting to happen, the next best thing was to take it easy and fake working. He felt the guiltiness of wasting tax payer dollars, as Kagura frequently liked to say, but it was only for an hour! Technically his prep period could be spent however he liked, and if he wanted to spend the hour doing absolutely nothing in the teacher's lounge then so be it! But there to disturb his peace, per usual, was Kagura. She entered with the fury of a storm, the door banging open loudly. Luckily no other teachers were in the lounge.

"Sheesh, Kagura, why can't you just come in like a normal human being."

She puffed her cheeks like an angered chipmunk, " Whatcha tryna say, Gin-chan?!"

He yawned, " That you're a punk. Now shoo Kagura, your Gin-chan is trying to get some work done here."

"Liar! I can tell that you're just going to take a nap when no one's looking!"

Bulls eyes, how the girl was so accurate with her guess would forever be a mystery to him. "I can't really say you're wrong but it's not proper to question a teacher like that! And why are you here anyways?! It seems like whenever there's a scene in the teacher's lounge you and Sofa-kun show up out of nowhere!"

"That's not true Gin-chan, the sadist isn't here now!"

"You should have just said you missed me, China, no need to act like a tsundere." Okita said as he strolled in with an armful of papers. Similar to how Kagura seemed to appear whenever Gintoki was lazing around in the teacher's lounge, Okita coincidentally would appear, and always with a copious amount of papers in his hands, whenever both Gintoki and Kagura were together.

"Speak of the devil, Sofa-kun!"

"It's Sougo, Danna." He answered more apathetically than usual. Gintoki kept his thoughts to himself though.

"And it's Sataka-sensei, Sourouichi. Why are you here by the way? I know that Kagura's a delinquent that skips class" he said pointing to the slightly peeved female," but you seem more the model student type."

Okita loudly set the papers on the edge of Gintoki's desk, " Did you forget that I'm the student council president? I actually have work that needs to be done." He said, the hint of malice in his voice not unnoticed.

"Only because all the girls voted for him! He won based on popularity, not skill, Gin-chan. Don't be fooled!"

Okita turned to Kagura and gave her a sly smile, " No need to hide your jealousy, acting tsundere like usual."

Kagura began ranting incoherently about her hatred towards him, every so often throwing in a "go die asshole!" Okita barely reacted to her long list of insults and death threats. He finished listening to her vehemently yell at him for three minute and then nonchalantly said goodbye and left.

"Didn't Sofa-kun seem off to you, Kagura?" Gintoki said as the door closed behind Okita.

Kagura pulled a chair from a nearby desk towards her. " Hmm," she said pondering the sadist's actions, "he didn't insult me back today, that's odd. He usually ends our fights by calling me a gluttonous monster."

Gintoki was at a genuine loss, " Your Spartan form of love is really messed up, I hope you know that, Kagura."

"We're not dating Gin-chan!" she countered defensively.

He gave her a sly smile. " I never said you were but if you're denying it that tenaciously then something must be going on between you two. Just be smart about it. I don't want to see you hurt, Sofa-kun seems like a total player."

She scoffed, "Takes one to know one Gin-chan. I heard you went on a date with Anego. How dare you?! You already have Tsukky-nee and now you're committing adultery with Angeo?! What a deplorable man you are Gin-chan!"

"Woah, woah, woah! Stop right there." He said to Kagura, clearly taken aback. " I don't know how you heard about the date but please don't go spreading rumors that could hurt my already tarnished reputation. And for your information, I thought I was going on a date with an Ana Ketsuna look alike, not Shinpachi's sister. Also who taught you those words?! I am in no way committing adultery, I'm not even together with that violent woman! If you're going to point fingers than blame her too! She went on a date with the Mayora!"

Kagura almost fell out of her chair from the shock. " What?! Mayora went on a date?! You mean that stick up his bum Hijikata that papi works with?!"

" There isn't any other mayonnaise loving, stickler for the rules, stoic faced man I know that fits the description." Gintoki was surprised that Kagura knew of Hijikata's existence. It did make sense though, her father was a detective that worked closely with the police department, but why did it matter who the mayonnaise lover dated? Hijikata was as much of a bachelor as Gintoki, the man deserved some romance in his loveless life.

"Gin-chan you imbecile!" she said now standing up. Gintoki really needed to find out who was teaching Kagura all these new words, a good scolding was awaiting them. " How could you set up Hijikata with Tsukky-nee when he obviously is still in love with another woman?!"

Gintoki rubbed his temple, why was it that migraines followed every visit made by Kagura? " I really don't know what you're getting at, Kagura. Gin-chan is tired so explain it to me in simple terms. Who is this other woman that the Mayora has? Last time I checked he was the president of single town."

"Gosh, you really know nothing."

"Thanks, Kagura, thanks for pointing out the obvious." He said a bit frustrated. The girl better get to her point soon, his hour prep ended in 30 minutes.

Her face suddenly lit up, " I know why the sadist was mad at you, Gin-chan." He gestured for her to continue. Gintoki barely understood the minds of grown men, pubescent males he understood even less. For all he knew, Sourourichi-kun could have been going through second puberty, the hormones run most strongly while as a teenager." He must have found out that you set Hijikata up! And that's a big no-no because the woman who was hurt most by Hijikata was his sister, Mitsuba."

"Hurt most by? They broke up by the sound of it."

Kagura shook her head," Mitsuba still loves him, she always did and always will."

"I don't get it then. So the Mayora broke up with her?" Relationship drama always went right over his head.

Kagura stared at him intently, "Gin-chan, Mitsuba is died. She died last year of lung cancer."

That stunned him into silence. He honestly never knew. He and Hijikata have been casual friends for years, often meeting at the restaurant. Gintoki vaguely knew the existence of a woman a few years back but Hijikata rarely mentioned his personal life, being the extremely private person he is. Gintoki also was not the type to pry, therefore the mystery of the woman was ended by the simple conclusion that the relationship did not work out.

" Mayora broke up with her as she was dying? He can't be that heartless, he's a stick in the mud but not an inconsiderate monster."

" I don't know the full story myself but according to the bits and pieces I've heard from Sadist, I can only say that it's complicated. Mistuba had been sick her whole life but the cancer was a new development. It happened after the separation though."

"Was it him?"

She nodded. " Hijikata didn't think he could provide Mistuba the happiness she needed. He worked long hours and could not care for her properly. Sadist said that Hijikata was an idiot because his sister never cared about any of that, she loved him for the sake of love. I heard that they were actually planning on getting married, until that is, Hijikata broke it off for the "better". He broke her heart and his own."

He stared at Kagura is disbelief, he never knew the Hijikata had been in such a serious relationship."Did Sofa-kun's sister ever tell him about her cancer?"

Kagura shook her head again. " I think she realized that if she told him then he would have came back to her. But that would mean tying him to a dying woman, to a dying love. It's quite tragic when you think about it. That's why Sadist can never forgive Hijikata. He could have stayed with her, he loved her and she loved him, but in the end Mitsuba died alone."

Gintoki felt a tear forming. " Awhh god Kagura! Why did you have to tell me such a sad story?! Now your Gin-chan is going to cry for that unlucky mayonnaise freak. He never mentioned her, and I don't think he ever will, but I wished he had in the past. If I would have been able to change his mind then do you think that his love would have ended differently?"

"I don't know Gin-chan. Love is a fleeting thing. We do not appreciate its brevity. Seize the day it seems the message is. It is better to have loved than to regret never have loved at all."

Perhaps Gintoki did not need to hunt down the person teaching Kagura these new words. She could not have expressed Hijikata's story any better. " Amen to that. No regrets, Kagura. And I mean for the both of us too."

"What's all of this, Gintoki?" Tsukuyo said as she spotted the table full of beautifully prepared Japanese dishes. Her favorites, grilled mackerel, pickled radishes, miso soup and a plethora of other items. " Are you craving Japanese food today?"

Gintoki finished placing the last item, two bowls of freshly scooped white rice, onto the table. " Not particularly, but I know that you really like Japanese food. I thought it would be a kind gesture, I did get off work early today."

Tsukuyo slide her blaze onto the back of the chair. " That's very sweet of you, Gintoki." She gave him a curious glare, " So what's the catch. Did you get sued for committing lecherous deeds in public and now you need an attorney to defend you?"

He laughed, not even offended by her words. " There is no catch, I just wanted to do something nice once in a while. I'm not that bad of a human being you know, that's why I wasn't sued today but thanks for offering to defend me in court."

"I wasn't quite offering, but I would if necessary."

"You're a real bro, violent woman."

Tsukuyo chuckled as she reached for her chopsticks. " You're welcome, Gintoki. And I really do appreciate this. It's very nice."

Gintoki reached for his own chopsticks. " I heard a story today that made me reevaluate life a bit."

"What was the moral of the story, pray tell dear sir?" She said in between bites of her rice.

" To not regret. And I am not regretting this dinner with you, or any of the dinners we've had. And I am regretting less and less the situation your mother has put us through."

Tsukuyo held her bowl mid-air. " Are you?"

He nodded his head.

She flushed a bright red, " I…"

Gintoki, seeing her hesitation, laughed. " Don't worry too much about it, violent woman. I just want to get that off my chest and now I can die happily. Enjoy the food before it gets cold."

Tsukuyo still held her bowl mid-air, deep in thought. The gears of her mind were grinding, she was still trying to comprehend the situation. " I'm sorry Gintoki that I can't give you an answer right now." She set how bowl down and stood up. " I need to clear my head."

Gintoki gestured for her to sit back down. " Really, violent woman, don't take what I said to heart. I was just going with the flow. This won't change anything so just sit back down." But this already changed everything. Tsukuyo didn't know what to think. Her initial reaction had been to blurt out a yes to the unasked question, and that fact alone scared her. She had wanted to accept his confession. Her, accept a declaration of love?! She must be drunk.

"I'll be back by midnight, Gintoki. I really just need a quick walk."

"But…."

She grabbed her coat and sprinted for the door, " I'll be back by midnight!" she shouted on the way out. With a specific destination already in mind Tsukuyo hailed for a cab.

"Yoshiwara please." She said to the elderly cab driver.

Hinowa hummed to the tune playing on the television. Shota was jovially watching an anime while she lounged on the sofa with a romance paperback in her hands; it was a typical Monday evening. Hearing the door bell ring once, then twice in quick succession caused Hinowa to break away from her novel. She glanced at Shota in mild surprise. The seven year old boy shrugged his shoulders.

"I was not expecting any guests this late, Shota." She said as she rose and headed for the door. The door bell rang for a third time. Hinowa gently pushed the metal door open to discover a disheveled looking Tsukuyo.

"Oh my." She said, " What a surprise Tsukuyo, come in come in." The flushed woman entered promptly. Her blonde hair was in disarray and she was panting like a marathon runner. " Did you run here?" Hinowa asked her friend, confused beyond words. Tsukuyo, the epitome of composure, looked like she jogged the ten miles from her apartment to Hinowa's apartment in Yoshiwara.

The blonde shook her head, " Cab….. then stairs." She heaved out, still short of breath. Hinowa lead Tsukuyo to the dining room table, grabbing a glass of water for her friend in the process. The blonde graciously accepted.

" Hi Tsukuyo-neechan!" Shota said waving from the living room. He rose to walk over but Hinowa crossed the apartment in a few short strides to her son.

" Now Shota." She said in her authoritative mother voice. " The adults are going to have a serious conversation, will you be a good boy and watch tv over here?"

Shota did not understand why his mother forbade him from greeting Tsukuyo, but the child complied regardless. He could hug his Tsukuyo-neechan another day. " Ok, mom." Hinowa smiled as he returned to watching Kamen Rider while she returned to her now less disheveled friend.

She sat down in the chair next to Tsukuyo. " Did something happen?"

Tsukuyo stared at her with wide eyes ,like a deer caught in headlights. " He said it."

Hinowa stared back, confused. " Please, Tsukuyo, you must elaborate a bit more."

The blonde inhaled a deep breath, hesitating to even repeat the words, " He confessed. While not explicitly, but nonetheless he did."

"Do you mean Gintoki? And you're still not speaking coherently. What did he say?"

She took another deep breath, " He made me a really nice dinner and then I joked with him saying that it was so weird that he was doing this even though it was my turn to cook and all but then he said that he's reevaluating life and that he doesn't want to regret and that this was apart of him not regretting and that he doesn't regret my mothers intervention in forcing us to life together and basically I was like are you saying that you like me but I didn't say it in those exact words but he knew what I was talking about and he said yes but I didn't know how to answer his question even though I actually did know what my answer was and then I panicked and her I am." She finished her infinitely spanning sentence, completely out of breath.

Hinowa, nonetheless, understood every word her friend said. She placed her hand gently over Tsukuyo's. " Oh sweetie, you don't need to be afraid of love. It may come knocking at an inconvenient time but you must face it head on. "

"But, Hinowa, you know how I am. I am so afraid." She said those last words in a whisper.

The raven haired woman squeezed her friend's hand reassuringly. " How do you feel about him then?"

" I don't know. I thought I hated him but I am even beginning to doubt that. I'm not sure of anything."

" True loves course never did run smooth." She said with a tight smile." But what is your heart telling you, Tsukuyo?"

The blond lowered her head to the table. " My initial reaction wasn't to say no, and that's what scares me. I almost said yes, Hinowa, I almost agreed to fall in love again." Her hands were trembling and Hinowa tried her best to sooth her friend by affectionately patting it.

" We do not agree to many things in our lives, especially falling in love. I think you already did, Tsukuyo."

Her face drained of all color, " I can't, not after him."

"Tsukuyo, you should not let one bad love ruin your perception of romance forever. Takeshi was an awful man, don't compare Gintoki to that scoundrel. He ripped your heart out and then stomped on it without a care. He's the worst kind of man possible."

"And yet I almost married him." She said with a bitter laugh.

"But Gintoki is different." Hinowa pushed back her seat to stand, " Let's make a list then. I think its helpful to have things written down so that our thoughts can be organized." She grabbed a pen and paper from a nearby desk. " Tell me all the good and the bad about Gintoki."

"There's going to be a lot of bad things then." Tsukuyo mumbled.

Hinowa smiled, " You'll be surprised. Get writing."

Tsukuyo began with the bad, she scribbled down first and foremost that he was lazy. He was a bum, he read too much manga, he was sometimes rude, he was lazy, he was lazy! But other than that main point Tsukuyo could not think of any defining negative traits. Gintoki, in actuality, was not even that lazy. He woke up early to arrive at school before his students, he surprising was never late for work. He also rarely slept in on the weekends, waking up at a sensible time, around 9 or 10, and then began doing household chores. While he was guilty of procrastination, in the end he still did what was required. Also, he cooked her breakfast, prepared her lunch, and even made dinner more often than she would like to admit. And while she constantly called him a lecherous man, his students genuinely liked him. She wrote that down. That should be a reflection of the type of man he truly is. Kagura also adores him, even if she won't admit it herself. The more Tsukuyo thought about it, the more her own prejudice dawned upon her. She had fallen for him long ago.

Tsukuyo banged her head on the table." I'm an idiot."

Hinowa kindly smiled at her friend's epiphany. " Sometimes we don't see the things directly in front of us. It takes a little push before everything becomes clear. Now don't you have somewhere to be?"

" More so than ever." She said bolting out of her seat. She wrapped her arms around Hinowa, " Thanks for everything. You're always there when I need you most."

Gently patting her back, she smiles and said, " Good luck, and don't be afraid of the risks, sometimes it's well worth it."

"This one is." Tsukuyo said with renewed confidence as she headed to the door while waving goodbye.

After Tsukuyo's departure Shota turned to his mother, " Does that mean I will be getting a nii-chan soon?"

Hinowa chuckles, " That all depends on your Tsukuyo-neechan but I believe it will be a reality in the near future."

The clock read 12, and while Gintoki knew that Tsukuyo had simply stated an arbitrary time during dinner, he could not help but feel anxious. Retrospectively speaking, Gintoki could have confessed more romantically, but he was really feeling the flow at that moment! Sue a man! He unintentionally blurted out those words but he meant every it. He had sincerity confessed to her. When did he even start liking the violent woman? He repeatedly told himself, like a mantra, that he would never date a violent woman. Well, here he was, in love with a violent woman. His life consisted of these cruel ironies. The more he thought about it though, the more he realized that Tsukuyo wasn't really that violent. She had a temper and would lash back if provoked but otherwise she was a calm person. And no matter how much he called her uptight, Tsukuyo was a very laid back person. She didn't care what you did as long as it did not directly impact her. She did not care that he had a JUMP addiction or that he consumed sugar like water, although she warned him of the looming prospect of diabetes. And his unhealthy obsession with Ana Kestuno did not faze her in the least; she said that it was his decision to fantasize about whoever he wanted. Let's not mention the one time she found the porn he confiscated from his students in his pile of books, she just told him to be more discrete about it. She gave him his space while still being within arms reach, and the thought of being with her forever did not seem all that bad. He could joke with her without getting slapped and she never made it awkward even after their two one night stands. When had he fallen this hard? Oh god, call old Gin-chan a hopeless romantic!

From the bedroom Gintoki heard the front door open and close in a hurry. Then, the sound of equally hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway. She appeared in a haphazard state with her face flushed red and heaving. The woman of the hour.

"Are you…." His words were cut short as Tsukuyo tackled him from his position on the bed. She hoisted herself up and held onto his shoulder while she sat in a straddling position. Tsukuyo kissed him hard, taking Gintoki aback, but soon he melted into the kiss, only breaking apart to breath.

" Are you drunk?" he asked, mistaking the redness in her face for the effects of alcohol.

"I've never been more sober in my life, Gintoki." She leaned down for another kiss. Gintoki could hardly complain about this treatment but morally just part of him took over. He couldn't believe that he was cockblocking himself but he gently pushed Tsukuyo away after a few minutes.

" I'm going to get the wrong idea, violent woman, if you keep doing this. Are you sure you're not drunk and just lying about being cognizant?"

Tsukuyo laughed a deep and rich laugh, " I'm positive that I'm not drunk, Gintoki. I'm the most sober I have ever been." She touched her forehead to his, her wind-blown hair splaying across his face." There is no wrong idea. My answer is yes."

"Do you mean…?"

She gave him a peck on the lips, " Gintoki, I like you. Now stop cockblocking yourself."

She was something alright, Gintoki had no words to describe this woman. But he didn't need words. He wrapped his arms around her neck and pulled her close, " Well, in my humble attempt to no get sued, I'll do as I'm told."

"What a masochist you are." She said laughing.

"It takes a very special kind of woman to put me in my place, after all. I think I may just have a secret thing for violent women."

He leaned in for the kiss, a slower and more affectionate kiss. Gintoki had no regrets.

That was a lot of plot development to force down your throats. Im sorry if things seem a bit rushed but I feel as though love, well, just happens. None of that love at first sight stuff, don't get me wrong I love those types of stories as well but for this story I feel as though a mutual respect form of love is most appropriate. It funny, in my opinion. Gintoki and Tsukuyo were looking for every different things in a partner. Tsukuyo wanted someone she could rely on, it makes sense since shes such an independent woman, and Gintoki wanted a woman who could be a lover and a friend. I could never imagine Gintoki with a very possessive woman, he is a freerange sort of man, en mi opinion. Also, I had been contemplating for a very long time whether to make Mitsuba alive or dead, when I say contemplate, I mean I really thought about it. I feel so bad for not allowing Hijikata to even get a break in this story but I felt the need to have Mitsuba stay dead. For the sake of the plot I apologize to Hijikata! But I have something in store for him, I didn't just leave him there to bleed dry! Otherwise thank you all for reading this beast of a chapter! Happy late Thanksgiving everyone and see you next month!