Chapter 36
The two finished eating at the same time. They both paid and left. Before they split Hijikata asked, "Are you going to do things differently now you know what the future's like?"
Gintoki smirked, "Hell yeah. No way in hell I'd ever let you have Tsukuyo. Not even over my dead body."
Hijikata smirked also, "Heh. That sounds more like you. Well Kondo-san agreed to help you so I guess we'll help you."
"Oi, oi. I don't ever recall asking for help. I'm totally capable of tracking him down without your assistance."
"Don't get it twisted. I'm only helping because Kondo-san agreed to help you and besides Tsukuyo and Gintaro misses you."
"Don't come all pissed off to me once I bring him back."
"Don't be surprised if I were to throw a couple punches at him."
"Oi shouldn't you hear him out first before throwing punches? Tsukuyo believes that he didn't leave without a good reason."
"I'm on the fence about it. Part of me agrees with her and part of me is still pissed that you just disappeared without a word. I believe there's no reason to ever leave a pregnant woman behind. That's just my thought. Well, see you around then."
"Bye, bye mister," Tsumiki waved at Gintoki with a smile on her face.
She has Tsukuyo's eyes. "Later kid," he replied. The two split and went their separate ways.
Gintoki made it back to his apartment. He put the groceries into the fridge and collapsed onto the chair. He thought about everything that happened so far and became even more determined to find his older self. "I'll definitely find you and bring you back."
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Tsukuyo and Gintaro were holding hands and walking down the streets of Kabukichou making their way to Yoshiwara. Little Gintaro loved both Kabukichou and Yoshiwara just like his parents respectively loved the towns they used to live in. Although he was born in Yoshiwara and lived there for a good three years of his life, he loved Kabukichou just as much. Gintaro was excited and let go of her hand. He started happily running in front of his mother. Tsukuyo tried picking up the pace and to catch up with him so she wouldn't lose sight of him.
"Gintaro slow down a bit," Tsukuyo called out. Gintaro was too excited and didn't really pay much attention to what his mother was saying. She called out to him again, "Ginto-," she stopped in the middle of his name. She was starting to feel extremely light-headed. She wanted to stop walking and take a break but Gintaro was getting further ahead. Just then someone called out to her.
"Tsukki! Is that you-aru?" Kagura called out with Sadaharu behind her. Tsukuyo turned around and Kagura noticed she was much more paler than usual. She ran up to her. "Tsukki are you okay-aru?! You don't look so good, yes?"
"Kagura, Gintaro. He's walkin' ahead, he's too fast."
"I'll go get him uh-huh!" She turned to Sadaharu. "Sadaharu look after Tsukki while I get Gintaro, yes?" Kagura ran up to catch up to Gintaro while Sadaharu looked after Tsukuyo. Tsukuyo held on as much as she could but she was growing faint. Her vision started getting blurry and the next thing she knows she blacked out. Sadaharu immediately noticed something was wrong and tried grabbing onto the collar of her kimono but his mouth was too big. A stranger happened to notice Tsukuyo fainting and caught her just in time before she hit the ground.
"O-Oi miss! Are you okay miss?!" A crowd started gathering around her with worried looks on their faces.
Kagura had brought Gintaro back to where she left Tsukuyo and Sadaharu and noticed there was a crowd. "What's going on there-aru? Kagura and Gintaro ran and pushed their way through the crowd. They saw Tsukuyo unconscious. "TSUKKI!" Kagura yelled out. She went and picked up Tsukuyo.
Gintaro had a horrified expression. He knew his mom to be a complete strong, badass woman who took the bad guys down. He never really told her but he completely respected and admired his mother. He knew how hard she raised him despite the fact his father left them behind. "K-Ka-chan…" Tears started flowing down from his eyes. "KA-CHAN!" he yelled. "Kagura-nee, ka-chan. What's wrong with ka-chan why isn't she opening her eyes?!"
"Calm down Gintaro. Get on Sadaharu's back we're taking her somewhere to rest, yes?" Sadaharu put Gintaro on his back and Ginatro clung onto his collar. "Yosh Sadaharu let's get back home as fast as we can, yes?"
"Ang!" Sadaharu replied back. Kagura and Sadaharu ran back to the apartment.
Gintoki was reading JUMP when he heard someone rushing through the door. "Kagura is that you?" He put his book down and saw Kagura holding an unconscious Tsukuyo with a crying Gintaro behind her. He immediately bolted up and ran up to her. "O-OI KAGURA WHAT'S WRONG WITH TSUKUYO?"
"I don't know-aru! I went to go get Gintaro for Tsukki and by the time we came back someone found her unconscious uh-huh!"
"Hospital...We need to get her to the hospital! Something might be wrong with her!" Gintoki immediately grabbed his keys for his scooter and ran out. Kagura clung onto Tsukuyo and got on top of Sadaharu. She made sure to seat Gintaro in front of her so he doesn't fall. "Let's go to the hospital!" They rushed to the hospital. Once they got there Gintoki took Tsukuyo. He told Kagura to stay here with Gintaro but Gintaro refused. He demanded he stays by his mother's side. The four of them entered together.