Here is Chapter 2! I forgot to mention the last chapter that this story is up on AO3 with pictures!
The pictures are also on my deviantart: Anime-luvrHES
Anyways, please enjoy~
Why does it have to be him—?!
I begin to sweat. What is with this situation? Why is it that I'm even in this situation? Oh right! It was because that damn sadist brat decided to sign away my home! Eh? But still, how did it have to come to this? Just why—WHY does my house mate have to be this bastard!?
Suddenly, the other man mutters, "Tch! Wrong Room!" before his familiar flat voice breaks the awkward silence, "Ahh… Hello, I'm your neighbor, Sakata Gintoki!"
I gulp, unsure of how to respond. Don't tell me this guy doesn't remember me?! I should test him to make sure. "Y-you! Don't you remember me?!"
Gintoki blinks his blurry red eyes, "Who? Wait have we met before?" The perm head seems to be thinking for a second before placing one of his fist on his palm, as a sort of light bulb moment. "Ahh—I got it! You're Oogushi-kun! You're Oogushi-kun aren't you! Man—you've grown to be so big after all these years! I barely recognized you! How is your pet goldfish?"
"Who the hell is Oogushi-kun?! My name is Hijikata—HIJIKATA!" I shout at the stupid perm. If he had forgotten, he could've just said so. What's with Oogushi-kun?! I am boiling in irritation—now that I think about it, I haven't had a smoke all day… "And how could you forget when we met just last night?! Remember at the diner, you stupid red bean lover!"
"Ahh~ I remember now! You're the mayora from back then!" He then puts his hands in his hair and ruffles it in frustration. "Augh! You've got to be kidding me! I have to share a house with this crazy mayonnaise lover?! How am I going to eat my meals in peace without hurling at the sight of his meals drowning in mayonnaise?!"
I snap, "Shut up you perm bastard! You are one to talk! I should be the one worrying about not eating my meals if I have to look at your gross, unhealthy sweet-filled meals!"
This comment triggers that guy to also snap. "No! You shut up! I can only have one parfait a week because of my damn doctor who says I shouldn't raise my blood sugar anymore! You don't know my pain with your stupid mayonnaise addiction!"
"Then you should just quit eating sweets!"
"Then I would die from low blood sugar!"
Suddenly, the door slams open, which hits Gintoki in the back of his head and makes him fall forward. I, seeing the falling man, use my fast reflexes to catch him—only for the two of us to collapse onto my futon. My heart was beating fast, Gintoki was laying on my chest, and my arms were around the other man's torso as if I were embracing him.
"Shut up! Some people are trying to sleep he—re…" Takasugi and I made contact his emerald green eyes meet mine as they widen slightly. He blinks once, twice, and a third time before responding. "Ah. Sorry for disturbing. Please continue." He closes the door softly.
My eyebrow twitches. He got the wrong idea, didn't he...
Suddenly, the silver perm head jumps up, getting off me, and turns back to where Takasugi had left. "OI! Takasugi—wait!" He runs out the door calling out, "Come back you bastard! This is a misunderstanding!"
I get up, close the door, turn off the light, and hide in my futon. What will I do?! Takasugi totally got the wrong idea! Well, Gintoki ran after him, so it should be fine right? It should be fine right? Right?!
Before I knew it, all those thoughts had made me fall asleep. The night had passed and morning arose with the waking sun.
Once I got out of bed that morning, I first checked if anyone was using the bathroom. Thankfully, it wasn't so I climb right into the shower to begin my morning rituals. Once finished, I wrapped a towel around my waste and exit the restroom, heading right into my room which was, conveniently, across the hall. I change into a dark blue-gray shirt and some jeans, then go back to the bathroom to hang the towel. I comb my hair neatly before brushing my teeth.
After finishing with that, I head down the stair into the kitchen. It seems like everyone hasn't woken up yet, so I tried to keep my steps as quiet as possible. When I'd finally reached the kitchen, I am met with the sight of a slim man with shaggy light blonde bangs over his eyes, in an apron, making what seemed to be ham and eggs for breakfast.
"'Morning…" I let out an awkward greeting.
Zenzou turns to me, "Oh! 'Morning! How do you like your eggs?" He turns back to his pan.
I walk over to the fridge and answer, "Medium." I open the fridge, looking for something to drink, but all I find is strawberry milk. Must be that perm heads… I glare at the offending pink and white carton, before backing away and closing the door. "Is there something I can make coffee with?"
Zenzou points to the coffee maker and the beans next to it. "The mugs are in the cabinet above them."
I walk over to where Zenzou points to, "Thanks." And begin preparing the coffee.
After the coffee was finished brewing I pour it into a mug for me before turning to Zenzou. "Do you want some?"
"Yeah, could you put a bit of creamer in it too?"
"All I saw in the fridge was that bastard's strawberry milk."
Zenzou chuckles, "I see you've met Gintoki, huh."
"Yep." I pour a cup for Zenzou then give it to him. I take a sip from my own mug, enjoying the tranquility of the morning. That's when I hear the footsteps coming to the kitchen. Takasugi strides inside but freezes when he makes eye contact with me. I saw this coming, I mean it's natural after seeing what happened last night.
I thought that perm bastard cleared everything up.—guess not. Well, then I might as well do it!
I put down my mug onto the counter behind me. "Takasugi," I sigh and scratch my head. "Umm… listen… about yesterday—"
The shorter man cut me off, "Hijikata can you pour me some coffee?" I blink before getting to the coffee, and he walks over to me. I hand him the cup, and he takes a sip before setting it down. "Thanks."
"Anyways, about yesterday—"
Takasugi cuts in again, "Oh, you don't need to worry about that. Gintoki chased me down to explain. It was partly my fault, so sorry about that."
"That's good." So that perm head did do it!
Takasugi continues, "Anyways, that was quite a scandalous image that I probably won't be able to forget about for a while." He chuckles, "I mean if you walked in and saw two men embracing on a futon, what would you think?"
"Two men embracing on a futon? What are you two talking about?" Zenzou joins the conversation.
Takasugi explains, "Well, last night, he and Gintoki were arguing." He points at me, "So, I barged into his room, and I find him hugging Gintoki on top of his futon!"
"Oi! Don't make it sound so misleading!"
All of a sudden, a voice at the door practically screams out. "WHAT?! Toshi was in bed with Gintoki!"
The three of us turn to the entrance, where Kondo-san and Katsura stood, both still in their pajamas. Kondo-san rushes towards me and puts his hands on my shoulders. "Toshi! You should have told me if you were seeing someone! I was worried for nothing!"
I try to push my clingy friend away, "I'm not seeing anyone! And what do you mean 'worried'?! What is there to be worried about?!"
Then Katsura joins into the conversation, sounding like an overprotective mom. "What did that boy, Gintoki do to you?! Oh, Toshi! I knew I shouldn't have left you with that stupid son of mine!"
"Who the hell is my boyfriend?! And who are you calling 'Toshi'!?"
Suddenly, Katsura is kicked onto the floor. "Who the heck would want to be your son!?" Gintoki kicks Katsura some more, as he rolls on the kitchen floor. "And Takasugi! Stop blabbering and gossiping like a chick bragging about her first time! You know very well that you were the cause of everything! And, Gorilla stop crying, you are annoying!"
"WHY YOU GINTOKI!" Katsura cries from underneath the silver perm's foot, and to get revenge for the beating he received, the long-haired man pulls on the silver perm's foot, successfully tripping him.
That guy struggles to get up, and growls, "Zura…"
Takasugi chuckles at the display as he walks over to them. He peers down on his two friends as if he is better than them. "Oi, aren't you two too old to be playing around?"
Both men on the ground seem to snap from those words as they both reach out for Taksugi's feet and drag him onto the floor with them. "Who do you think you are calling old?! I may look like an adult, but I'm just a kid inside!" the silver perm shouts.
"I never raised you to treat your mother this way!" Katsura shouts in a high-pitched womanly voice.
Takasugi makes an effort to kick Katsura in the head, "Why are you talking like you're my mother!?"
Kondo-san who had now recovered from the shock and sadness rushes over to the three. "Now, now! No more fighting! How are we going to start breakfast like this?!" I feel my eye twitch from the annoying high-pitch, motherly voice he uses. He turns to Zenzou who is placing breakfast on the dining table. "Neh~ Otou-san!~"
Everyone pauses to stare at Zenzou, who raises one arm into the air. "Hello, I'm Otou-san."
Ah! I want to hurl! What the heck is this playing house?!
"Come on, Toshiko dear! Go help Otou-san set up the table!" the gorilla addresses me.
I can feel a vein pop out from my head. "Who the heck is 'Toshiko'?! Why am I the daughter! If anything the daughter should be that long hair over there!" I point at Katsura who had finally stood up along with the other two.
"It's not 'that long hair over there'! It's—" Katsura spins around, making his way to the table next to Zenzou. "Zurako." He bats his eyes and puckers his lips, trying to act like a girl. "Now, now, Otou-san~ Let Zurako handle this!"
I could feel my eyebrow twitching as I hear the laughter of both Takasugi and perm head going wild.
Everyone in this house was crazy, weird, and highly irritating. But even with all the shenanigans, they pull and all the fighting we get into, it all somehow feels…
…Warm…
I watch as everyone gathers around the table, laughing, making jokes, and teasing each other.
I don't fit in here…
It just feels like I am barging into someone else's family's dinner table.
Everyone is so far away…
…too far for me to reach…
…too far…
Just like back then.
"Toshirou!"
"Come on over here, Toshi!"
"Would you join us for dinner, Toushirou-san?"
"Toushirou-san, I love you!"
"Stay away from my sister, Hijikata-san."
Yeah… just like that time.
"OI! Are you deaf mayonnaise bastard?!"
I snap out of my thoughts only to meet clear red eyes.
They're so beautiful… a deep red…
A hand is waved in front of my eyes, blocking my view of those beautiful orbs. I finally snap out of my daze, realizing that the owner of those beautiful, scarlet eyes was none other than Sakata Gintoki. I stay silent as I stare into his eyes some more, before deciding to respond.
"What?"
I feel a warm hand embrace my cold one. Gintoki's eyes soften slightly as a warm smile took a hold of his lips.
"Come on, it's time for breakfast. We can't start without you."
Using a little force, he manages to drag me forward before letting go of my hand. My fingers twitch at the lack of warmth that was once there as if it missed the feel of his touch. Then, I feel that same warmth they yearned for on my back, as Gintoki shoved me forward towards the dining table where everyone sat.
There were three chairs left.
A chair for Sakamoto who is on a business trip.
A chair for Gintoki who stands beside me.
Then who is that last chair for?
A guest?
An extra?
"Come on, and have a seat. Your chair is right there." I shift my gaze to where Gintoki pointed to. It was a seat in the middle of the three empty seats.
A chair for me…?
"Ahh! I'm starving!" Gintoki walks in front of me. He turns around to meet my gaze, "Come on, the family won't start breakfast until everyone is at the table!"
Family… huh.
Am I allowed to be in such a big family?
Or maybe it's because this is such a big family?
I chuckle at my thoughts. My feet stride forward to my chair, as Gintoki sits down in his own next to Takasugi.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
I take my seat at the table, which signals everyone to start chowing down. In front of me is my egg, done medium.
This is my family.
"Oi! Someone pass me the mayonnaise!"
