Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Gintama.
Note: Update everything at one-shot since I have already finished the ending this week. All the rewriting, author's block and playing around with the characters are just so much fun, reminding me the joy of writing. My story might not be loved by everyone, but thank you to all who support this story. Two more chapters after this to end my first fanfiction that I put up online. Enjoy!
"Leaving Gintama? What do you mean?" Shinpachi asked alarmed.
"I am leaving this anime." Manju used the same phrasing with a different word.
"Why?!" Kagura was totally upset. "Did Gin-chan bully you? Or Mayora? You don't have to leave, I will teach them a lesson for you!"
"I can hit them on my own if I want to," Manju smiled. "I have to, no I want to leave Gintama. I want to go home."
"Yorozuya is your home. Gintama is your home!" Kagura insisted.
"It is, but I do have another home. My parents are not around anymore, but that is where I am born, my home too."
"What is the point of going to that empty home?" Sogo asked. It was not like he care whether she is around, he just don't want to lose a training partner.
"I can go to my aunt from there," Manju said. Ever since the seal broke, the Sun's and Moon's abilities had surface unstably, allowing her glimpse of her parents past. She has an aunt who is not related by blood, an extremely close friend of her mother.
"Your aunt?" Gintoki asked calmly.
"Yes. She is human, my mother's closest friend and student. If I go to her, I can learn and control my abilities and powers. I might even be able to revive my parents." Manju nodded.
"Then why did your parents sent you here and not to that aunt of yours?" Hijikata asked.
"I don't know. Maybe it is because mama did not want Mayumi ba-san to know about their death." Manju answered. "But she has the rights to know. When you are dead, you have to tell your friends or they will be living on false hope." Manju looked at the Moon and said.
"Then? When will you come back?" Gintoki asked. He was prepared for this already. Knowing this girl for more than two years, he knows she will ask to leave sooner or later, especially after they know she is not human nor some normal amanto.
She is a God.
"Two years," Manju smiled and looked at him, thankful for his understanding.
"Two years. It is a promise. If I don't see you two years from now. I will destroy the Moon. You know Yorozuya, you know Shiroyasha. We are capable of that."
"Yes. I know." Manju nodded.
"Chutto Gin-san, are you really going to let Manju go?" Shinpachi and Kagura looked at him in disbelief. "Are you really fine with Manju leaving?"
"Shut up noisy brats." Gintoki scratched his head and said. "She will only be away for two years. It is not like she is not coming back. When you have the chance to study aboard, don't waste it."
"Then I will go with you." Shinpachi made up his mind and said. "It is too dangerous to go alone."
"I came alone too." Manju chuckled and patted his head. "You people really worry too much. As the main characters of Gintama, you guys can't just leave."
"Dameda Manju! We are going to die if you leave." Kagura looked at her with watery eyes, grabbing her arm.
"You won't. Gintama is all good before I come anyway."
"Don't say that. You are making things worse." Gintoki bent down and picked up some litter. "We will take you to the Moon tomorrow. So do whatever you want by then. Training, eating or what so ever."
"Gin-chan, don't let Manju leave!" Kagura started tearing up.
"You are annoying. She already promised she will come back." Gintoki looked at her in annoyance.
Kagura bit her lower lips and sobbed. "Man-chan, please don't go. We will miss you so much."
"Kagura, I will try to remain contact through your cell phone ok? With mahou, maybe I can do that." Manju comforts the girl. "If it works, we can use video call too."
"Souvenirs." Kagura muttered in despair. If even Gintoki can't stop Manju from leaving, she can only let her go.
"Humm?" Manju prompted as she could not hear it properly.
"Souvenirs! You better get us two years worth of souvenirs!" Kagura yelled at her unhappily.
"Sure. When I see anything interesting, I will get you some." Relieved that Kagura finally calmed down, Manju looked to Shinpachi, who sighed.
"If it gets too difficult, you can come back anytime. You don't have to wait for two years." Shinpachi resumed picking up rubbish.
"Thank you. I won't forget that." Manju nodded.
"Since this is the last training, I don't want to miss it." Sogo said. "Come, we will do it once we get back to Shinsengumi. Dana, I will take her back after that."
"No. I will go over after supper. We are going for a makeup date after you guys ruin this." Gintoki said.
Manju said nothing and finished cleaning up. She went back with the Shinsengumi, grabbing finger food on their way back. They had their usual training because it is their last one until two years in the future, Manju made sure Sogo was satisfied.
Sogo looked at the bloodied scratch on his shoulder that torn his uniform, then at Manju, whose fringe got cut off a little. They had been using real katana in training one month ago. It was more exciting and that actually produce better results.
"It is going to be so boring after you leave. Hijikata-san is too weak to be my opponent now." Sogo smirked and said.
"Why don't you try pestering Gintoki to train with you?" Manju smiled and said.
"No thank you! Such troublesome thing." Gintoki sat with his finger in his nose.
"Then maybe you can just attack him. He has to defend himself." Manju suggested.
"Oi, you damn brat! Are you telling other people to attack your boyfriend?!" Gintoki said with a tick on his had.
"I see. That is a good way too." Sogo nodded and give it a thought. "Well, I guess this is the end of our last train." He said.
"Last in the next two years. She is coming back." Gintoki corrected.
"When you come back, fight me with your mahou. I want to know how it feels like to stand so near a Sun." Sogo left the dojo after he did a back wave.
Manju said nothing and dried her sweat with a towel Yamazaki had gotten her. "I should get a bath." Manju looked at herself, thinking of the date they will be having. She then looked at her fringe that is now a little uneven.
"You still smell like a manju, so don't worry about that." Gintoki put his arm around her and urged her to leave.
"I am happy that we are going to date but it is already late. Everywhere is closed." Manju followed him as they held their hands.
"You don't have to worry about that. Since I am the one taking you, it means I am prepared." Gintoki traced the ring she was wearing. That got Manju curious. She looked at his face from the side, seeing how he usual wear his expressionless face but she could spot little traces of unhappiness.
"Ahhh..." Manju looked ahead of them and raised her voice a bit, startling her partner. "For some reason, I don't feel like leaving anymore." She announced.
"Then don't." Gintoki squeezed her hand. "No one is forcing you but yourself. We do the final chapter scum all the time. The readers won't be angry even if we insisted that it is just a fake." Manju stopped and stood in front of him with a smile. "What?" Gintoki asked a little uneasily when he detect playfulness in her smile.
"You are a very awkward person. You wanted me to stay, but you acted all cool and even helped me persuade Shinpachi and Kagura."
"I..." Gintoki got a little embarrassed. "It is not like anything will change if I try to get you to stay. Once you made up your mind, it is not like you will change it because of me."
"You are right. I am going no matter what." Manju nodded and they resumed walking. "But don't you think it leaves a bad taste in your mouth if you don't let it out?"
"Leave it. Hiding his emotions is Gin-san's setting." Gintoki sighed.
"It is true but Gintoki, you don't have to do it in front of me right? I understand men like to be cool and strong but... To me, the most important thing is that both parties are able to lick each other's wound when they are hurt physically, emotionally and mentally. I think that is what be a couple is about."
Gintoki said nothing and continued to lead. They came to the Kapibarasan Theme Park, the place where they had their first date. Gintoki had wanted to take her here for another date. There are new rides here. He had gotten the tickets ready but Shinpachi and Kagura chose to budge in. He climbed over the gates, but Manju stopped him by pulling his kimono. "Gintoki! What are you trying to do?!" She asked, alarmed.
"Going in!" Gintoki wobbled on top of the gates, trying to free himself from her. "You come up too."
"They are closed already!" Manju looked around frantically, trying to pull him back down. "Ah! Hijikata-san! Gintoki! The Shinsengumi are coming for patrol. Come down you idiot!" Manju scolded.
"Fukuchou, there is some noise over there." One of the Shinsengumi members pointed in their direction. They are behind a bush so they did not see Manju and Gintoki directly.
"Just a couple of cats." Hijikata said flatly. "Go that way. There are more burglaries in that area." They left the area without checking.
"Come in already." Gintoki grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. As the two of them fell over the gates, Gintoki held her tightly, kicked the gates to remain upright and landed on his feet, with Manju in his arms. He let her down, took her hand and started leading again.
Manju looked around, curious at this date. She stopped when Gintoki stopped in front of the hot air balloon pick-up point. Bulbs lit up and a theme park music was played. There was a hot air balloon standing by. "You said you had never taken one right? We will take it today."
Manju was drawn to the hot air balloon that has two kapibarasan with a heart-shaped. Interestingly, one kapibarasan has silver perms. Another one is just a plain kapibarasan, but it is biting onto a white manju. "Want to take a picture?"
"Kotaro? Elizabeth?" Manju blinked at the man and pet who came out from the control station of the hot air balloon. He was holding onto a polaroid camera which he found on the table in the control station. Gintoki pulled Manju to him and posed them in front of the hot air balloon.
Katsura took two pictures so that each of them have one to keep. "Did you four made this balloon?" Manju asked, looking at the photo.
"Everyone did." Katsura smiled and said. They had sneaked in here during her training with Sogo. Shinpachi and Kagura insisted on getting her something special. They met Kotaro coincidentally and came out with this. Gintoki had to buy four bottles of mayonnaise to pacify and make a deal with Hijikata who was patrolling around here to ignore them. Of course, that could not have happened if it was not for Kondo to 'order' him and that Gintoki had argued with him for the two unused tickets. Even so, Hijikata did not promise them anything, but he did pretend that he did not see anything when he heard the two of them sneaking around the gates."We thought that this will be more special than a farewell party."
"Thank you so so so much. It is really beautiful." Manju thanked him gratefully. "Gintoki, thank you too." She gave him a peck on his cheek and beamed sweetly.
They got on the hot air balloon with Kotaro controlling the course. The theme park is already closed with no lights to see, so he navigated it towards the streets of Edo where the neon night lights shine the most brilliantly at this time.
"O! We can see that haunted house from here." Manju said excitedly. "That is Saigo-san's okkama club."
Gintoki is calmer, but he had a rare smile on his face. It is his first time on a hot air balloon too but compare to the night light view of Edo, he is more interested in Manju.
"Manju..." Gintoki took both her hands and made her turn to him. "You are right, if I don't say anything now, I am so going to regret it."
"Gintoki..."
"Is there anything? Anything that can get you to stay?" Gintoki asked, tightening his grip on her shoulder. He doesn't want her to leave. He wants them to stay like this forever, but he knows he cannot be selfish. Manju's wish to get to know herself and her family was clear since the first day, but still he hoped... "If there is a need, we can just bring your aunt over. She can teach you here. As long as you stay..."
"Mayumi ba-san has a family too. She is the main character of her world too. Like how you can't leave Gintama, she needs to stay in hers." Manju shook her head.
"Then come back and fro, like how Shinpachi come and go home every day. I will get you a ship. You can still live here."
"Gintoki... that is not realistic." Manju shook her head. She doesn't know about the world her aunt is living in yet, it might not be possible to travel in and out of different worlds that easily. "If I find a way to do that, I will come back straight away."
Gintoki sighed, dropping his head on her shoulder. "Because of you, I just ruined one of our best date."
"Of course not." Manju closed their gap and hugged him and rubbed his back. "Besides fun, we are supposed to talk things during dates."
"Man-chan..." He hugged her back and faked a cry. "What am I going to do without you?"
"What are you talking about? Just live how you usual do." Manju asked in amusement.
"It is true my life used to require air, food, water, JUMP and pachinko, but now I will die without manju." He faked another sob.
"Go to manju shop and get them you idiot." Manju chuckled and pulled back. "Two years past quickly. Fix your manju addiction by then." She pinched his cheeks and said.
"Addicting to manju is one thing I don't want to fix." Gintoki pinched her chin and kissed her.
"Then don't complain when you don't have it." Manju smiled and leaned onto him.
"I am going to keep complaining until you come back." He hugged her tightly resting his cheek on her head.
"Shinpachi and Kagura are going to be so irritated." Manju sighed in satisfaction at the warmth and comfort of being in his arms.
Manju thanked Katsura again after they finished the ride. "Don't be so formal Manju. We are all friends. Take care and see you in two years time." Katsura held opened his arms, to which Manju did the same. They both shared a big bear hug.
[Do your best in your studies. Good luck.] said Elizabeth's plank card.
"I will do my best! I will get stronger, so strong that I can protect everyone and this world from everything!" Manju said with confidence.
"I won't lax on my training too Manju. When you come back, let us spar." Katsura smiled as they bided their goodbyes and went on their separate ways.
When they reached Otose Snacks, they found Otose, Tama and Catherine waiting for them.
"You are leaving tomorrow, so we could not prepare anything fancy." Otose gave her a bundle. "Come back as soon as you can. Only you can hold that perm head's leash."
"I will do my best." Manju said, thanking her for the farewell gift.
"Manju..." Tama gave her friend a hug, rubbing her back. "All the best." Manju nodded with a beam.
"You go there and top the school. Show them what a manju is made of." Catherine winked and said. They only know she is going to study in some other planet, not another world. "Then bring us mementos!"
"Catherine-san, manjus are made of sugar, flour and more." Manju laughed and get a hug from her too.
"The manju from Kabukichou can read, write, walk and do all sorts of things." Otose scoffed. "Time past fast. In two years, you changed so much." She smiled. She recalled how the girl was like the first time Otose had seen her. Reserve, hard-working and polite. The girl changed suddenly, becoming more playful and less formal.
"Yes. Two years past fast. I will be back in no time." Manju said.
"Go and rest. It is already so late." Otose nodded and patted her back. "Oi perm head, make sure you transport her safely." Otose looked at Gintoki and narrowed her eyes.
"Worry not, I will put her in a freezer with other manjus as camouflage." Gintoki said flatly. His words triggered Manju's laughter.
"Hmmm... I want honey manjus' company." She played along and smirked playfully.
"Yes honey, chocolate, strawberries and all sorts of manjus. You won't be alone, damn kid." Gintoki ruffled her hair, messing it.
Manju straightened her hair as she wished them good night and went up with Gintoki, satisfied at today's picnic and date. She felt a little sad leaving, but she know that after two years, she will definitely be back, stronger by then, and also able to protect them, Kabukichou, Edo and the whole Gintama.
"Gintoki," They stopped halfway up on the stairs. "I know the answer already, but... Hearing you say it will be a big reassurance."
"What is it?" Gintoki asked.
"This two years, will you wait for me? It is a selfish request but... as useless, selfish and lazy as you look, you are very attractive." Manju smiled and said, her words embarrassed him. "If another girl appears, someone more beautiful, over 21 years old, and likes you a lot. Will you like her too?"
"This is an unexpected question from you." Gintoki smirked. "You always seem so confident in yourself that you are not jealous when I am with another woman."
"I mean... when you meet someone better than me." Manju folded her arms and shuttered a little.
"Manjus are supposed to taste like you. Any sweeter, saltier, sexier or chewier, I will not eat them." Gintoki leaned in and licked her lips, enjoying her reddened face.
"The two of you! Go in and kiss all you want! What are you trying to do with your public affection?" Otose yelled at them. Gintoki just grinned at her and pulled Manju closer.
"No use getting jealous. No one wants to kiss an old hag like you." Gintoki insulted.
"You should be thankful a cute girl like Manju wants to kiss you stupid curly!" Otose threw a rock at him to which he ducked. Manju laughed at their comical display, pulled him down by his collar and kissed him.
"Thank you for that assurance. I promise I will be back in two years, so please wait for me." Manju beamed happily and said.
"Of course. I am still waiting for you to grow some boobs so that I can fondle them." Gintoki smiled evilly, lowering his hand to her butt. "For now... I can use your b-"
"What are you planning to do with my butt?" Manju grabbed his hand and threw him from the second floor.
"You are so mean!" Gintoki cried and yelled at her.
"Use your own butt." Manju turned her back on him and opens the door.