Chapter 51

They all looked at the door and saw Gintoki standing at the door in shock. They were so busy talking to each other they hadn't noticed that Gintoki entered the bar a couple of minutes before. He ran up to Tsukuyo and sat next to her.

"G-Gintoki when did ya enter?!"

"Tsukuyo nevermind that. Did I hear you right? Did I just hear you're pregnant?"

"I think I am. Ah'm not entirely sure. I took a bunch of pregnancy tests today 'cause tha girls think I am."

"And?! What did they come out as?!"

"P-Positive…"

"Then you're pregnant!"

"Pregnancy tests can still be incorrect. I would have ta go get checked out by a doctor ta be completely sure!"

"Let's go immediately. When were you planning to get checked out?"

"I was gonna go tomorrow."

"Let's go tomorrow then. I'll come pick you up."

"We can meet up at tha hospital Gintoki."

"No, no, no. I'm going to pick you up. I don't want you walking or running around a lot while you're pregnant. Does Hinowa know about this?!"

"Yeah she was there with us."

"Good. Look Tsukuyo I don't want you running around fighting crime with the Hyakka. I don't want you or our baby in any danger."

Tsukuyo scowled, "I can take care of me an' our possible baby just fine."

Gintoki put both his hands on her shoulders and had a very serious look on his face. "Tsukuyo, I know you. You are a workaholic and a very stubborn woman. Please just listen to my wishes just this once," he pleaded.

Tsukuyo let out a gentle sigh. "Fine Gintoki. Ah'll take it easy."

He let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you."

Otose had a smile on her face, "Congratulations you two. You two are going to be parents. Can't wait for the baby to be here."

"Thank ya Otose-san." Tsukuyo got up from her stool. "I best be goin' now. Ah've been feelin' really tired an' haven't been able ta sleep properly."

"I'll take you back."

For once Tsukuyo didn't argue back. She was feeling really tired and he could tell she was tired because she didn't fight back. He ran upstairs and grabbed his keys and readied his scooter. "Ah'll come back another time Otose-san. Have a nice evenin' everyone."

"Take it easy Tsukuyo," Otose said.

"See you next time pretty girl!" Catherine yelled.

"Take care of yourself Tsukuyo-sama. Until next time," Tama said as she bowed her head.

Tsukuyo got on the seat behind Gintoki. She wrapped around her arms around his waist and put her head down on his back. "Tsukuyo wait." She put her head back up and he put his helmet on her. "No arguing." She nodded and put her head on his back after he secured the helmet on her head. "Get a good grip on me." He slowly went down the streets of Kabukichou. The wind was blowing against her and it felt nice. She slowly started to drift off to sleep. He finally got to Yoshiwara and called out to her, "Tsukuyo." There was no response. He panicked and turned around only to see she was asleep. He let out a sigh of relief. He gently nudged her awake.

"Huh? Oh we made it back already?" She got off the scooter and gave his helmet back to him. "Thanks Gintoki. Get home safely alright?"

"Wait right here." He parked his scooter to the side and went back to her and held her hand. "I'm going to drop you off all the way." They walked all the way to Hinowa's shop.

"Tsukuyo, Gin-san! Welcome back!" Hinowa said.

"Gin-chan, Tsukki welcome back!" Kagura said with her mouth full of dangos.

"Kagura what are you doing here?" Gintoki asked.

"She dropped me off," Hinowa said as she patted Kagura's head.

"Did you break the news Tsukki?"

"Gintoki happened ta hear tha news while I was tellin' Otose-san."

"Gin-chan it's not nice to eavesdrop on women's conversations, yes? Tsukki you look really tired. Let's go back to your room and sleep, yes?"

"Oi Kagura what do you mean? You're sleeping here?! You're coming back home with me!"

"No Gin-chan. I don't want to sleep in a cramped up closet. I want to sleep in Tsukki's room uh-huh! It's nice and spacious!" Kagura ran into the back and into Tsukuyo's room.

"Kagura!" Gintoki yelled at her.

"It's fine Gintoki let her sleep here." Tsukuyo took his hand to stop him from chasing Kagura. "Thanks fer tha ride by tha way. What time will ya be comin' by?"

"Is 10 AM fine?"

"Yeah that's fine. I wanna go an' get some sleep now. Get home safely alright?" She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"I will. Get some rest."

Tsukuyo went on ahead into her room.

Hinowa turned to Gin-san with a smile. "How do you feel about your new addition to your family?"

Gintoki sat down and let out a small sigh, "Honestly? I'm scared to death. I don't know whether I'll make a good husband or father."

"Don't think such nonsense Gin-san. Although I'm pretty sure you two both feel that way, there's nothing to be afraid of. As long as you guys continue to communicate and work together as a team, everything will be okay. You two always make the best and survive even the stickiest of situations, don't you?"

"Heh. That's true but I still lack the confidence of being a good dad you know."

"I'm sure Tsukuyo feels the same way about becoming a mother, she's just too stubborn to say it out loud. You two already have experiences. For you it's Kagura-chan and Shinpachi-chan and for Tsukuyo it's Seita. I'm confident you two will be great parents. Besides the child will become the child of Edo also won't they? We will always help you guys out with raising them you know."

"Yeah, everyone in Edo will always be there to help us."

The next day arrived. Tsukuyo got up and looked at the time. It read 9:30 AM. She had thirty minutes to get ready to go to the hospital. She looked at her side and saw Kagura sleeping with a snot bubble and her blanket in a disarray. She put the blanket on top of Kagura back properly. She got up and made her way to the bathroom to clean her face. She decided to leave her hair down, she didn't want to bother putting it up. She changed into her kimono and walked out. Hinowa was in the kitchen making some plain toast for Tsukuyo.

"Good mornin' Hinowa."

"Tsukuyo good morning! How are you feeling?"

"Ah'm feelin' a bit better. Is that toast yer makin'?"

"Mhmm. I figured you should have something extra light before you leave. Do you think you can handle toast?"

Tsukuyo took a seat, "Yeah I can handle toast."

Hinowa set down a plate of toast in front of Tsukuyo. She took a bite of it and slowly ate the toast. "Are you nervous?"

"Kinda. Ah'm more nervous whether ah'll make a good mother or not. I don't know if I would make a good one."

They have the same concerns. Hinowa smiled, "Tsukuyo you will make a good mother. Don't worry about it and go with the flow. You did well with Seita, you will do well with your child." The two women continued chatting until they heard someone call out from the shop.

"That must be him," Tsukuyo said as she got up. "Ah'll see ya later Hinowa."

Hinowa waved, "Have a safe trip Tsukuyo!"

Gintoki was sitting and saw Tsukuyo with her hair down. She looked just as beautiful as she does with her hair up. "Didn't feel like putting your hair up today?"

"Couldn't be bothered," she replied. "Are ya ready ta go?"

"Yep. Let's go." He held out his hand to her and she took his hand. They left Yoshiwara and went to the Edo hospital. Once they entered they were sent to the maternity ward of the hospital. They sat and waited until their names were called.

"Tsukuyo-san and Sakata Gintoki-san?" the nurse called out. Tsukuyo and Gintoki got up and followed the nurse to a room. "Sensei will be come in a moment please wait."

They sat in the room looking around. There were a lot of charts and pictures of babies and pregnant women. They heard a knock on the door and the doctor stepped in.

"Hello, I'm the doctor that will be taking a look at you today. You are Tsukuyo-san and Sakata-san, yes?"

"Yeah that's us," Tsukuyo said.

"Well let's see." She was going through the papers. "You came here to confirm whether you're pregnant or not correct?"

"Yes," they both replied.

"How long has it been since you last had your menstrual cycle?"

"It's been 'bout two months."

"Alright, since it's already been two months what we can do is examine you by ultrasound. If you don't want to we can get some blood work done but that would take a few extra days. Which one would you prefer?"

"Ah'll get tha ultrasound done."

"Sounds good. Please follow me." The doctor got up and they followed the doctor into a room. "Please lie down there. Sakata-san you can sit next to your wife over there." Tsukuyo lied down and Gintoki sat next to her and held her hand. "Hm, you're wearing a kimono. Do you mind lifting up the kimono? I can put a blanket over you waist down."

"Stay lying down, I'll do it." Gintoki pulled up the kimono up to the point it fully exposed her stomach. The doctor handed over a blanket and he covered her from the hip down.

"Alright I'll be applying some ultrasound gel on your stomach area. It'll feel a bit cold at first but please bear with me." She started spreading the gel all over Tsukuyo's stomach. The doctor turned off the lights, got the small transducer and started moving it around her stomach. All of a sudden the room was filled with two rapid heartbeats and one steady heartbeat. "The one steady heartbeat you faintly hear is Tsukuyo-san's. There are two heartbeats I hear. You see that over there?" She pointed at the monitor. There were two hearts simultaneously beating.

Tsukuyo immediately looked at Gintoki. "Gintoki…"

Gintoki looked back at her in shock. "T-Two heartbeats. That means that they're…"

"Twins," the doctor finished their sentence. "Congratulations you're having twins! Now we won't be able to tell the gender until twenty weeks into the pregnancy. Would you guys like a picture?"

"Yes please," Tsukuyo replied.

They walked back to the room they came from. The doctor sat across from them. "Now Tsukuyo-san you are eight and a half weeks into the pregnancy already. That's a bit over two months. Now since you're carrying twins it is extremely likely you will give birth four weeks earlier. You came at the right time. I can start you on your prenatal care right away since you're already eight weeks in. Now it is super important to take care of your health. I will prescribe you a prenatal vitamin and it is absolutely crucial you take it. No strenuous or dangerous exercises, smoking, and drinking alcohol. It is super important that you eat properly, rest often, and get proper sleep on top of the prenatal care. Be prepared for body changes like swollen ankles, varicose veins, stretch marks, and growth in breasts."

"I'm not complaining about that last comment." Tsukuyo elbowed him on the side. "I meant yes sensei. We'll be super careful. Is there anything else?"

"It's good to slowly plan out your delivery bag for when you come to the hospital to deliver. Prepare for the kids financially. Children are super expensive."

"Yes sensei," they both said.

"Are there anymore questions?"

"Not any I can think of at tha moment."

"Alright then. Come back in four weeks for another check-up. Make sure to immediately come to the hospital if there's something wrong even in the slightest. The receptionist downstairs will give you the prescription for the prenatal vitamin and the picture of the ultrasound. Have a nice day."

"Thank ya/you sensei." They both took their leave and got the prescription and picture of the ultrasound. Once they left the hospital Gintoki collapsed onto the nearest bench.

Tsukuyo was concerned. "Gintoki are ya alright?"

Gintoki gave her a hug. "I'm alright. I'm just so amazed and happy. I'm super happy right now. Not only are we planning our life together but we're also having our own kids. I just want to say thanks for everything. I may be lazy and a no-good man but I promise I'll take care of you. Even until my dying breath I'll take care of you."

"Yeah ya might be a lazy an' a no-good man but I love everythin' 'bout ya. Yer good sides an' yer bad. Ah'm no angel either. Ah'm pretty stubborn, can't handle liquor, don't know how ta be ladylike, an' more."

He let out a laugh. "Yeah you sure are a pretty stubborn woman, a drunk terminator, and definitely far from ladylike. But I love you just the way you are. You have much more beautiful qualities that outshine them all."

"We'll pull through this together Gintoki."

"Hell yeah we will. We make the best tag team in the entire universe. This is just another battle we'll overcome together. We'll become the most badass and coolest parents our kids have ever seen. Right honey?"

Tsukuyo smiled and petted his head, "Yeah we will be darlin'."