It was late June in Edo.
Summer had just started, the days were getting warmer and more humid.
The Strawberry Moon was approaching quickly, marking the last full moon of the spring season, ringing in the proper beginning of summer.
As usual, a big festival was held outside town for the occasion. Hinowa had invited Gintoki and the kids, saying Tsukuyo needed a break from work.
He would give her that break she deserved, because today,..
today, he had planned something special.
Gintoki reached into his Yukata, feeling the small object he had carefully placed in it.
Finally.
Gintoki was confident.
Hinowa had sent Tsukuyo to scout for a good place for the moon viewing. She made her way up a hill right next to the glittering lights of the festival.
Quite a lot of people sat down here, eagerly awaiting the fireworks.
Tsukuyo climbed further up, almost reaching the tree line.
Up here, only one lost couple sat down some meters below her.
They could spend the evening here.
Tsukuyo sat down in the warm gras.
It was the perfect place to overlook the festival and it gave the absolute best view on the moon. The celestial body loomed bright over Edo, dressed in a faint red.
Pulling her knees up to her chin, she waited for the others to arrive, losing herself in the enchanting sight of the moon.
"The moon looking at the moon, how ironic."
Tsukuyo jolted.
That deep voice gave her goosebumps in places she didn't want to admit.
Gintoki sank into the grass next to her, with quite a distance between them.
She reckoned that she liked that he was always keeping his distance like a gentleman, never invading her space too much.
However, in reality, she disliked it. She wanted to hold his hand, feel his warm skin and drag her hands through his hair.
But he will never belong to anyone, especially not her.
„Ah I sat down on something hard, let me just.."
Gintoki shuffled a little closer, now only a foot's length away from her. She could lean on him if she really dared to. The mere thought made her face burn, but he didn't notice.
"That's better"
Tsukuyo was still caught in her thoughts, when she suddenly realized that his fingers had crawled over to hers, lightly touching her tips.
Of course it was an accident, it's always an accident.
Her eyes were glued to his hand, so she didn't notice how his ears flushed slightly.
"Y'know Tsukki, the strawberry moon got its name because of the harvesting seasons. It's now time to pick the strawberries. But that's a pretty lame name if ya ask me. Usually it's not a red moon, so I don't understand why it is now…"
Tsukuyo didn't really listen, she only felt his fingers burning her skin to ashes.
"..But for me it has a different meaning."
Gintoki's eyes stared up to the moon, not leaving it out of his sight.
"...mh?"
Tskuyo couldn't form any words as she looked up to his face, her mind literally crumbled into mush.
Gintoki didn't give an answer to that, the moon reflection in his bored eyes made them shine redder than usual.
Suddenly, the couple down the hill started to kiss quite loudly and Gintoki cleared his throat, leaning back, retreating his fingers from hers. He crossed his arms behind his back, laying down in the grass.
When his fingers left her skin, she squealed silently. Tsukuyo quickly pressed her lips to a line, hoping he didn't hear it. She had no time to think much about it though, as something new, far more dangerous to her state of mind happened.
Gintoki slightly spread his legs, until his knee touched hers, sending her heart into overdrive. His head didn't falter once, his eyes still fixed on the moon.
Minutes went by without any movements from either of them. Even though both of their legs were covered in clothes, she felt close to exploding from the shere contact.
And he didn't move it in the slightest. Resting it there like it was the most normal thing in this world.
"Gintoki..?"
She was finally able to speak again.
Gintoki's eyes were still directed into the sky, fixed on something only he could see, but it seemed like her voice triggered something in him. She couldn't find out what it was, since Hinowa and the kids came climbing up the hill. Her clear voice rang over the hill, shouting their names in excitement.
Gintoki's eyes widened and he rolled away from Tsukuyo in the blink of an eye, leaving her leg strangely naked.
"Tsukuyo, that's a nice place you two got there!"
Hinowa had reached them and looked down at them, smiling happily.
"Here we brought you something!" Seita jumped around Hinowa and left a plate of dangos in the grass for them to eat, before he sat down between Tsukuyo and Gintoki. Hinowa however had different plans, noticing Gintoki's uncomfortable silence and Tsukuyo's blushing ears.
„Seita, let's go a little further down, I don't like the air up here!"
She laughed and waved for Seita to come to her side.
"Gin-chan, don't even think about seducing poor Tsukki, she's here for a break and not for a heartbreak!"
Kagura wiggled her finger to emphasize her words.
"Kagura! I'm sure that's not what Gin-san is doing here!"
Shinpachi exclaimed, shocked at Kagura's bluntness.
"Who do you think you're talking to?!"
Gintoki blurted back at the girl, but they had already turned their backs to him. He observed them climbing down again, taking a seat not that far away from them.
The mood was ruined.
But.. which mood? There was nothing.
Tsukuyo looked up to the moon again, thinking about the events that had unfolded.
It was all in her head.
It always was.
"Ya want some?"
Gintoki reached over to the plate and held it up to her, but she shook her head. After a short, hesitant moment, he took the plate and chewed at the dango's as if nothing happened.
She wasn't hungry.
When his smacking died down, she heard the rustling of the dry grass.
Something suddenly tugged in her hair.
Tsukuyo turned her head and stared directly into his wide open eyes and he immediately shifted back to his original position and patted the side of his fluffy hair. She mimicked his movement, feeling something hard in her hair.
She pulled it out and examined the small object in her hand.
It was a small, delicate silver kanzashi, covered in expensive looking embellishments along the rod and a silver strawberry on top. The clear stone embedded into the forged fruit sparkled in the faint moonlight.
Clearly, it wasn't cheap.
Her eyes darted away from the jewelry, up to him, but Gintoki was back to leizuring on the ground, staring into the sky. But this time, he had his hands on his chest, fidgeting on his fingers nervously.
Tsukuyo held it up, examining it from all sides and from the side of her eye, she caught Gintoki's head turning to her.
"What's this?"
"It's a hair ornament made from silver, forged into -"
"- no I meant why are ya givin this t' me?"
"..'s for you"
"Why are ya giving me presents, it's not my birthday."
"It's kind of between our birthdays, it's like a middle birthday, so happy birthday to us..I guess."
"What does that even mean?!"
Gintoki remembered her birthday?
"Beats me honestly. I don't think when I talk… am I not allowed to give you something nice?!"
"That's not it.. just,..why?"
"Don't ya understand?!"
Gintoki turned his head to her, his face redder than the moon above.
"Wh - what is there to understand?"
Gintoki lifted his arms to his face.
"We..-we don't need to wait another year for the next strawberry moon, ..we...eh..could make our own strawberry moon." He mumbled, hiding his face behind his sleeve.
"What?"
"..said what I said." He continued mumbling into the fabric.
"I..ya head's really empty."
Gintoki didn't answer, simply staring up again.
"Thank ya, but I can't accept that."
"Why not, I got it for you."
"It's ..strange. If it was expensive, get your money back."
A strange pause settled between them and it took some long moments before he spoke again.
"Tsukki.. just say you don't like me and give it back. I don't need your pity."
Gintoki's voice was silent and he reached out his hand.
It was shaking heavily.
"I.. I never said that."
Tsukuyo looked at his hand, feeling her own body shaking. She didn't know what to do now.
"But you also didn't say the opposite."
"That's not it."
"What is it then?"
Tsukuyo didn't reply to that. She couldn't reply.
She couldn't tell him.
"I see."
Gintoki sighed and turned away, his back facing her.
She eyed him for a while.
What's wrong with him?
That was completely out of character, he never behaved like that.
Her eyes fell down on the kanzashi. It was so beautiful and it seemed like he especially picked it out for today... Tsukuyo pulled out the small Kunai in her hair and tucked the hairpin into her golden waves.
The time was approaching midnight,
the most romantic point of the stellar event,
..or so she heard.
"The fireworks should start soon."
Tsukuyo began to talk again, hoping she could bring back his old self.
"Guess so...don't you want to sit with everyone else?"
He pointed down without turning around.
"No."
Silence.
"Why not?"
"I'm already where I want to be."
It took all her willpower to say that and she was happy it was out now. He could do with that information whatever he wanted.
"You can stop lying, I'm not mad at you."
Ouch.
Tsukuyo laughed. If it was out of pain or nervousness, she didn't know. She felt a boost of sudden confidence flooding her and she moved over to him, tapping his shoulder.
"Ya honestly don't look mad, more like you're sulking."
Gintoki immediately shot up in a sitting position, turning to her with a scowl on his face.
His eyes fell on her hair, before he bluntly looked at her nose.
"I'm not sulking!"
His eyes glistened, as if he was about to cry.
"Oh, yea you're not sulking, you're sad! Sad and lonely!"
"I'm not sad and definitely not lonely."
His face was angry, but he still couldn't hide his wet eyes. It really amused her.
"Ya are!"
"I'm not! Can prove it to you, if ya want."
"Okay,.. show me."
Without a warning, Gintoki shuffled closer
..,too close.
His face was only a hand width away from hers and she stopped laughing, embarrassment overtaking her emotions.
"I'm finally telling you how I feel and you just laugh at me."
Gintoki's voice was deep and quiet, almost tempting.
"How ya feel..?"
Tsukuyo could only whisper back at the sudden change of atmosphere. A strange feeling of electricity formed between them.
"Isn't it clear?"
"Wha-?"
"Do I really have to explain it to you? You sure are dense"
"I think ya just stupid in the head"
"Tsukuyo, we both aren't strangers. We have known each other long enough now. Tell me what part of me is strange to you and I'll work on it."
Too close Gintoki, too close.
His eyes shot up to search for hers before he continued to speak.
"For you. Only for you."
Gintoki's dead eyes were more alive than ever, the gleaming deep red captured her, taking her breath away. His next movement brought their foreheads together and she gasped sharply, but didn't retreat.
He was so close now, she could feel his shallow breathing brush over her lips and she opened them slightly.
His eyes immediately fell down.
„Tsukuyo.."
She flinched slightly, hearing him speak so close to her.
„Can I.. Can I kiss you?"
His voice trembled and he whispered so quietly that she almost didn't understand what he said. His face flushed furiously and she knew hers did as well.
Her heart stopped for a moment, before beating loud enough for him to hear it.
"On..only when I can kiss you.."
She replied weakly, her voice shaky like his.
That was the dumbest thing she ever said, but he didn't mind as he laughed nervously and closed the almost non existent distance between them.
His lips touched hers and she felt every emotion unfolding at once.
Pure joy, deep trust, electrifying affection and some locked away desire burning inside her whole torso.
Gintoki kissed her slowly, shyly.. no he kissed her brisk, deepening the kiss, placing his hand on her burning cheek, dragging his thumb over her scar.
Tsukuyo tasted the sweetness of the dango on his lips, it was intoxicating, only adding to the sensation of his soft mouth on hers.
Strangely, while she couldn't be more happy, she also felt incredibly sad.
A single tear ran down her cheek and hit his skin.
As she opened her eyes ever so slightly, she saw him crying as well.
He drew back for a second, breaking the flaming contact.
"Don't cry honey..it's fine.."
He wiped away the wetness on her cheek, but left his own face ontouched.
For a moment, they just looked at each other in admiration, crimson staring into amethyst.
Tsukuyo never expected that day would come where he would reciprocate her feelings , it had always been enough for her to spend time as friends.
But right now, his eyes spoke more than anything he had ever said to her in the span of years.
They spoke of years of suppressed love.
Hiding it whenever he locked at her, concealing it away from prying eyes, never allowing himself to fall for anyone.
The first fireworks light exploded in the night sky, illuminating his face in a deep red shade.
Both of them jumped at the sudden interruption, turning their eyes to the dark dome above them.
"I made it on time."
Gintoki whispered, pressing his nose to her cheek.
Tsukuyo couldn't answer, like in an amorous trance, she continued looking up to the sky, capturing every colorful explosion with her eyes.
Gintoki's face moved in front of her vision.
She moaned when his tongue touched her lips unexpectedly, opening up her lips as he dove into her mouth for a fierce kiss.
Nothing about that was shy or trying anymore.
He had marked his territory, and now it was time to expand it.
Gintoki successfully averted her attention from the sky to him. Only him.
Their lips touching, their joined breathing, there was nothing that could be more important than that.
The soft early summer breeze picked up as he rolled over her and they sank down into the warm grass, not caring that anyone could see them loving each other.
A little farther down the hill, Hinowa gasped in awe.
"Finally, it's happening!"
"Hinowa, what is it?"
Shinpachi turned his head away from the blasting fireworks to face her. Hinowa gave him a big smile and pointed over her shoulder. He followed her gesture, but jerked back in a mere second, blushing horrendously.
"I.. eh- Hin..Hinowa they,.. they're..kiss-"
Shinpachi stuttered, encouraging Hinowa to tease the young boy. She laughed and patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"Ah, what can you do when the hormones flood you on a beautiful night like this? I can't blame them. Although I must say, I hope he can pay our dear moon, outside does cost extra."
Seita's eyes detached from the fireworks and he turned around curiously eyeing Shinpachi's nosebleed. As his head turned around, he jumped up and pointed at the knot of limbs behind them.
"Mom, what are they doing?! Gin-san's eating her!"
"Everything's fine Seita, sit down and watch the fireworks, don't worry!" Hinowa smiled from ear to ear, she really couldn't contain her excitement. More quietly with a snicker, she added:
"I'm sure he'll eat her sooner or later though."
Shinpachi fainted, mumbling incoherent words.
"They both didn't really experience their teenage years, it's okay that they do it now, no one's getting hurt in the process except poor Shinpachi-kun."
"Shinpachi, you can wake up! They're not gonna do anything dirty in public, no."
Kagura hit Shinpachi in the side, successfully making him shoot up again. Shinpachi frantically looked from Kagura to Hinowa, as an especially loud groaning mixed out of two voices rang out from behind them, which was not covered by the sounds of the fireworks.
Shinpachi tensed up and his hand grabbed his glasses a little too tight.
"Hinowa, I think we should get going now." He muttered between lips pressed to a line.
"Yea, you're probably right. This hill is full of couples, we shouldn't disturb them."
Hinowa agreed with a thoughtful nod.
Shinpachi already stumbled down the hill, while the rest of the group followed him without a hurry. Hinowa peeked over her shoulder one last time and saw Gintoki rocking against her, dimly lit by the moon and the occasional light explosions.
They wouldn't do it here, or would they?
Considering the tension they built up over the last years, it honestly wouldn't surprise her if he just jumped her here and now and with the sounds coming from Tsukuyo, she wasn't completely against it.
Hinowa sighed and with a big smile on her face, she leaned on Seita and they walked down the hill,
leaving the new lovers connected in the night of the strawberry moon.