*A/N: Hey guys! Happy Sunday. (: Saw the latest Gintama episode and felt pretty good so I managed to write up two chapters. Double chapter woohoo! :D Just wanted to thank you guys for reading and dropping reviews. Every single review means so much to me so thanks! Hope y'all have a wonderful day/night wherever you may be.

Chapter 14

"You're what? You two are what? You two are engaged?!" Gintoki couldn't believe what he just heard.

"Yeah. Honestly ah'm not interested in stuff like marriage. Ah'm completely content with tha way things are right now." Tsukuyo looked out the window. "Mah father really wants me ta get married an' have kids. He incidentally met Toushirou-san and he really liked him so he requested fer a meetin' fer tha two of us ta Matsudaira-san. I don't think a woman has ta go through all of these things ta be happy, but mah father disagrees. I can't go against mah father. He took me in, it wouldn't feel right."

She's still willing to give up her happiness for the sake of the other person's happiness. "Don't you want to fall in love? Get married to the person you love?"

"Ah've never fallen in love romantically, so I don't know what that feels like. I don't think ah'm cut out fer that kind of thing. But if this makes mah father happy, ah'm willin' ta go through with it. One thing I absolutely cannot give up are tha kids. I don't care what mah father has ta say 'bout it. Ah'm never leavin' tha kids behind."

A smiled curled on his lips. "Well at least there's one thing you can't completely give up." Still shouldering everything alone like usual. You know you're not alone. If you ever need help scream my name. I'll run to your aid. Don't try to bear the burden alone. Don't be a stranger to me. Lean on me. Rely on me. Don't be afraid to do so since we're friends, right?"

"Yeah, we're friends."

"You know it's okay not to obey your father 100%. I am fully aware of how grateful you are towards him, but don't force yourself to do everything he wants you to. It's not selfish of you to put yourself first. It's much better to die living a dirty life full of happiness, than a clean life without any meaning behind it."

Is it okay? Is it really okay fer me ta live a carefree life like that? "Ah'll keep that in mind."

For the rest of the ride back they sat in comfortable silence enjoying each other's company. The train finally arrived at Kabukichou. They got off the train and made their way towards the exit, then they spotted Hijikata standing and smoking. He noticed them and made his way towards them.

He looks grumpy as usual. Wonder what he's going to say this time.

"Tsukuyo-sama, you were instructed not to leave to the countryside. Not only did you disobey Miyoshi-sama, but you went with this guy on top of things?"

Something in Tsukuyo snapped when Hijikata said this guy. For some reason it came off offensive to her. "Toushirou-san what do ya mean 'this guy'? This man happens ta be someone that helped me out on many occasions. He also happens ta be mah friend. An' ya already know what ah'm 'bout ta say 'bout tha countryside. I don't care what mah father has ta say. Ah'm never leavin' the kids behind. Ah'll be takin mah leave now. Goodnight ta ya." She had never felt this furious before and left Hijikata speechless.

She defended for me twice! She's so kind! She's a good girl. She really is a good girl! "Heh looks like you made her angry Mayora," Gintoki said teasingly.

A vein popped on Hijikata's face. "It's Hijikata! What were you doing with her anyways?! How do you two know each other?!"

Before Gintoki could provoke Hijikata any further they heard Tsukuyo calling out to Gintoki. "Gintoki, are ya comin' or not?!"

"I'm coming Tsukuyo! Well then bye Mayora!" Gintoki ran off to Tsukuyo's side.

"IT'S NOT MAYORA, IT'S HIJIKATA!"

xxxxxxxx

They were both going down the lively streets of Kabukichou.

"Oi, is it okay to leave things on that note with your fiance?"

"It's okay. It's not like we're a real couple ya know. We're only engaged 'cause of mah father."

"Well where are you going to go now?"

Tsukuyo pondered for a moment. "Ah'll just go back home an' face tha consequences. Are ya gonna go back home Gintoki?"

"Hm, yeah. Since you're leaving there's nothing much for me to do." I don't want to leave her alone with how things ended with Mayora. I can tell the situation at home is probably intense as hell. "Before you leave do you want to eat something together? Ah, but can you pay? I'm broke."

Tsukuyo let out a small laugh, "It's mah treat where do ya wanna go?"

Gintoki smiled. "Yosh let's go to this place I usually go."

Gintoki brought Tsukuyo to the family restaurant. His go-to place to get his parfait fix.

"Welcome!" the waitress said.

"Table for two," Gintoki said.

"Right this way!" She leaded the two to a booth next to a window. She handed out the menus to them. "We're doing a couples special this week! Everything is 25% off for you guys! You two are a couple, right?"

"Of course we are! Right honey?" Gintoki asked. I wonder how she'll respond.

Tsukuyo's cheeks turned red. She stuttered, "Y-Yeah darlin'."

"Ah! You two are such a lovely couple may I ask how long you two have been together?!"

"Ah we've been married for three years now. We actually have twins at home. They're being babysat, right honey?"

"Yeah."

"Aw how adorable!" the waitress squealed. "Sorry for getting so off-track. What would you guys like?"

"I'll take the strawberry parfait. What about you Tsukki?" Gintoki said teasingly.

Tsukuyo jumped when he called her Tsukki. "I-I don't know what I really want. Ah've never really come ta these kind of places," Tsukuyo whispered to him.

Gintoki corrected the order, "Ah make that two strawberry parfaits then miss."

"Right away!" the waitress chirped and took the menus back with her.

They talked for ten minutes and their parfaits finally arrived.

The waitress set a parfait each down in front of them. "Enjoy!"

"Gintoki, what is this?" Tsukuyo inspected the parfait scrupulously.

I can't believe she's inspecting the parfait! It's too funny in a cute way. "You've never seen a parfait before?! Man, you've missed out on a lot. Grab your spoon and dig in. Let the heavenly parfait take all your problems away!" Gintoki chowed down on his parfait.

He makes tha parfait sound so good. Tsukuyo picked up her spoon and dug in just like Gintoki did. She took a bite of her first parfait ever.

Gintoki looked at her eagerly waiting for her reaction. "So? How is it?!"

"It's a bit too sweet fer mah tastes, but it's still good nonetheless."

Gintoki broke out into a huge smile. This is so like her. "It's still good, right?! I'm glad you still like it!"

He's such a kid. Tsukuyo agreed, "Yeah."

They enjoyed their parfaits and each other's company. Tsukuyo paid and the waitress handed over her a small box of cake.

"Thank ya," Tsukuyo said.

"Thank you very much please come again!"

They exited the restaurant. Tsukuyo handed the box of cake to Gintoki. "Here ya go."

"Eh? What is this cake? Why are you giving this to me?"

Tsukuyo felt embarrassed but tried hiding it to her best abilities. "It's not fer ya! It's fer Kagura an' Shinpachi. Don't eat everythin' by yerself make sure ta give them some, ya hear?!"

"Yeah, yeah. I promise. So are you going to go back home now?" I don't want to say bye. It doesn't make a difference whether it be in this world or my world. Everytime we're together I enjoy her company so much time just slips by so fast.

"Yeah, this is where we go our separate ways. Will ya be comin' ta tha countryside again tomorrow?" I don't know why but I enjoy his company so much. Ah've never felt this way before. I don't wanna say bye.

"Yeah I told the kids I would. You wanna meet up at the station? That way we can ride the train together."

Tsukuyo nodded. "Sounds like a good idea. Ah'll see ya tomorrow then. Good night, Gintoki."

"Later Tsukuyo."

The two went their separate ways and went back home with a big smile on their faces.