A/N: Hey folks. I'll never truly die. I'll be haunting you with my mediocre musings for the rest of time, so when you're sitting in your hoverchair, overlooking what was once New York City from a window on a flying colony ship, know that there will probably be another chapter of Setting Sun in a month or two.

Here's Part 1 of a 2 Part Mini-Series - People Always Hook Up Over Vacation

By the time 6:00 PM rolled around, Yorozuya-Gin-chan's office became quiet. The late-afternoon light bathed the room in a calming glow.

With the "kids" out of the house, there was only the sound of the small table-top senpuki and the occasional rustling of a flipped page.

Gintoki stifled a yawn as he stretched out on the couch, relishing the relief he felt in his joints as he did so. How long had it been since he last moved?

Noting the stack of magazines at his table-side, his eyes darted to the corner of his current Jump. Ch. 413.

It's been at least 20 chapters since he last stood up. Just thinking about it made him yawn again. Another 5 chapters should be fine…

He heard the front door slide open and frowned a bit despite himself.

The shifting of bags and light, sandaled steps on his wood flooring echoed into the room. His frown relaxed a bit. It wasn't Shinpachi here to disturb his Nirvana.

The small, pale face of his girlfriend turned the corner before the rest of her, and he met her eyes from behind his magazine instantly.

"My, Gintoki," chuckled Shimura Tae as she brought a pair of groceries in. "Just sitting around while the young ones are off to a party? Doesn't this make you feel old?"

"Being told that I should feel old makes me feel old," the white-haired samurai grumbled, eying her as she walked the groceries to the fridge. Even in her very modest Yukata, he could appreciate her lithe form and the strange, unearthly grace she seemed to naturally move with.

"Well, I'm here for more than just delivering your strawberry milk, old man," she made a beeline toward him, a small mauve postcard in her hand.

Grunting, he sat up just in time for the card to land on his chest. "What's this? Did we win the lottery?"

"You need to play the lottery to win it," Tae said as she plopped down next to him. "It was outside on your porch. I got one in the mail today too, but I didn't open it yet. Why don't you see what it is?"

Without ceremony, Gintoki flipped open the card, recognizing the crest within instantly. "Kyuubei-kun? Is Kyuubei back from her trai-" The card was snatched out of his hand.

"Kyuu-chan is back?" Tae cheered excitedly as her boyfriend flinched back at the sudden volume.

It had been a few months since Yagyuu Kyuubei had left Edo for Akita, to pursue and develop an extensive training regimen for the other members of her clan, and though he and Tae had not yet started dating at that time, he was aware that his girlfriend was greatly saddened by the news.

"W-well? Is she?" He watched her eyes, trying to discern what was happening from her facial expressions.

"Yes! And she invited us to visit!"

"What? When?"

"Tonight!"

Gintoki frowned, looking at the door. "This sounds like something Kagura and Pat-san would want to be around for, no?"

"Yes, but, well, they are off to a party across town. Why don't we go stop in and see how she's doing?"

He instantly felt the comfort of his peaceful evening being ripped away from him. He wanted to protest, but one look at the eager grin on his girlfriend's face told him he would not – SHOULD not resist.

Scratching his shaggy hair, he heaved a dramatic sigh. "It can't be helped."

A few months was not enough time to change the appearance of the Yagyuu clan's castle, but it felt like ages since he'd last visited. More than anything, memories of fighting the Yagyuu for Tae's freedom took the forefront of his mind.

It was cloudy that day, and he remembered being filled with apprehension as he climbed those steps, growing closer to that gray sky. Was he doing the right thing by stopping someone else's marriage? A marriage built on a promise and a sacrifice? At the time, he knew nothing about the person named Yagyuu Kyuubei or the prestigious Yagyuu clan. He only knew that Tae was being taken somewhere by force, and that Shinpachi would do anything to stop it. Either of those things would've normally been enough for him to act, but it was the memory of her tears as she said goodbye for what may have been the last time that truly spurred him to pick up his sword.

Now, climbing those same stairs beneath a darkening orange sky with the woman he had saved, he knew he made the right choice.

As her sleeved arm looped around his, he wondered if she was thinking the same thing.

The massive wooden gates opened, and a pair of gruff guards ushered them in with polite nods.

But it wasn't Kyuubei who greeted them in the courtyard. It was her long-haired number one retainer, Ayumu Toujou.

"Gintoki-kun! Otae-sama! Welcome!" He practically danced over to them, long blonde hair flowing around him theatrically. "The Young Lady was wondering if you'd be coming this evening!"

"Hey now, what's with this creepy greeting? You're usually a pain in the ass.."

Tae elbowed her partner gently, looking up at him seriously. "Come now, Gintoki. Maybe he became less of a pain as a result of his training?"

"Otae-sama! Your words wound me! Wait…" Toujou's eyes opened in shock. The couple could tell by his line of sight exactly what he was looking at. The man's eyes darted from their arms to their faces, changing targets every few seconds while gaping like a fish. "Are you two-?"

"Toujou! Stop harassing my guests!" A familiar voice called out across the courtyard. The man quickly spun on his heels back towards the mansion, as if it were a conditioned response. Still, his head turned back without the shock ever leaving his expression.

The couple turned toward each other, confusedly trying to read each other's expressions. It was then that Gintoki and Tae realized the reasoning for his surprise.

Their arms were still linked.

Tae's hand shot to her mouth, and Gintoki began to cold sweat.

Kyuubei didn't know they were together.

With obvious reluctance, they slowly unlocked their arms without ever breaking eye contact. Gintoki bit his lip.

What are we going to do? How is Kyuubei-kun going to react to this? This just became really complicated all of a sudden!

Relax! Kyuu-chan has come a long way, right? She might even be happy for us?

It was at that moment that Gintoki happily learned that comedic semi-telepathy ran in the Shimura family. A realization that was rapidly overshadowed by his continued panic.

Do you even realize what you're thinking? How many times has she tried to kill that Gorilla just for being next to you?

It's different with you! Kyuu-chan actually likes you! Maybe when she sees how happy I am with you, she'll-

Tae's thoughts suddenly went blank, and her face heated up to a cherry red.

Fighting the blush from his own face, Gintoki attempted to recover. He forced an awkward cough and looked off into the distance.

"W-well, let's go in and err, play it by ear, shall we?" he said in a forced, serious voice. "Unless you just want to tell her how happy you are with m-"

"Idiot!" Tae gave the man a rough push forward, trying to hide her face behind her sleeve.

A/N: That wraps up today's random thought. Stay tuned for more! Eventually!