Chapter 4 : Silver Lining

Back to present day, Yoshiwara

Gintoki dragged Tsukuyo's hand through the street, ignoring the woman who was wailing with the face similar to a tomato.

"Gintoki! Let go of me!" she finally managed to yank his hand and released his grip.

"What are you trying to do to me?!" Tsukuyo shouted to him. Her hands were crossed in front of her chest, quivering from embarassment. Her heart was beating so fast it almost made her pass out. Luckily, there wasn't a lot of people on the streets so nobody really heard her commotion.

It was so bizarre, the man she had tried to avoid was standing in front him and just recently pulled her hand to take her somewhere. She was sure that all of these had happened because of Hinowa, that lady would have bribed him to make out with Tsukuyo just to tease with her, and Gintoki would have done anything for the cash.

"What's wrong?" Gin turned back and started approaching her.

She could see that he was being serious that time, his lazy demeanor couldn't be spotted anywhere and his dead eyes were replaced with fiery crimsons that burned her to the very soul. She would have much easier time if he never became serious like this, but it was such a rare sight to be seen.

"Did Hinowa send you to accompany me? You're here for the money, aren't you?" Tsukuyo asked a question that itched her.

Gintoki didn't answer her question but extended his arm instead, giving her a sign to hold it.

"No, she didn't, I sent myself. I will answer everything later. For now, just follow me" Gin explained with his sternish tone.

"Do we really have to hold hands?"

"Well, what can I say if you don't want to do it" he retracted his hand and continued walking in front of her.

She followed quitely behind him, hastening her steps to keep up with him. When they were walking, Tsukuyo noticed some Hyakka members and also courtesans who cheered her without letting out a voice. She only gave them an intense look that said 'what are you looking at?', hoping they would leave from her sight. It was no use though, since they just kept on pestering them like a new couple. Unlike her, Gintoki was able to keep a cool head and walked through like it was nothing.

He suddenly stopped when they arrived in front of a large building. She noticed where they were at that time, in front of the building that started everything, the building where they fought together for the first time, the Night King's Tower.

The tower had been abandoned for quite a long time since there was nobody actually living in there, but it was being kept there as a monument that marked their victory against the evil ruler. She questioned his decision to bring them there, because the building was practically empty.

"Why are we here?" she asked.

"We are going to find a place in this building. We should go in" he turned his body around to explain what they were doing.

He sticked out his hand again for her, "Shall we?"

This time she took it with one of her hand despite feeling very nervous about it and started walking with him. Tsukuyo could feel her fingers fidgeting between his, but he steadied them by holding her hand tighter. Her breath immediately went faster and her cheeks got warmer every second, enduring them was a torture for her.

They walked through the lairs and doorways in the building, she could recollect everything that used to happen inside like their battle against Hosen. The fancy rooms for guests, operational technologies, the sliding doors, everything made her remember the time she was serving the Night King by becoming the town's head of security. But it was all over when the sun had striked the land, illuminating them with blinding lights, and the tyranny had come to an end. Those were happened because of a group with fearless minds, the Yorozuya. The leader himself, Sakata Gintoki wasn't called 'Savior Of Yoshiwara' for nothing, as he already helped the city for too many times. But somehow, she had the chance to stood beside him and walked together here towards an unknown destiny.

... What did she do to deserve him?

They ascended to the highest floor, the floor where Hinowa's seclusion room used to exist. They took a turn towards a nearby window and stopped there. He released his hold of her and used both hands to push open the window. He went through it and offered a hand to help her climb. After a climb through the window, they had arrived at the roof tiles that was so high up from the ground.

Strong winds could be felt by them and the entire city of Yoshiwara was displayed among their eyes. It was such a stellar panorama of lights, hypnotizing anyone who dared to gaze it.

"You're not scared of heights, are you? I think this is a perfect spot," he said while looking at the city from up there.

She couldn't understand clearly his motivation to do all these. Why this place? Why now out of all time? Why would he took her out tonight?

... Why her?

"Gintoki, I undertand that you just wanted me to feel better since the festival, but I don't think you have to go this fa-"

Silence...

He silenced her...

She felt the warm and soft sensation on her lips when he kissed her. In a while, their lips didn't break their contact from each other.

He slowly released their mouths and held her hands, "You're worrying too much"

She wasn't able to come up with any words to say, still being fazed from his sudden kiss. It was so delicate, so silky, so genuine. That was her first, and it will probably become the one she would never forget in her life.

"Don't you want to know the truth?", he started speaking.

"I've been lying to myself whole the time. I had always wanted you, but I have never admitted it to my own self"

He caressed her hair to reveal her scars on her forehead and cheek, the things that made her face so memorable.

"It felt wrong to me for wanting you. You're strong, reliable, and also dedicated to your mission, which I deeply respected. So I thought you wouldn't want anyone to interfere with your job by being something more than your friend, and I stopped thinking about it"

Gintoki released his hands and proceeded to sneak them behind her back, pulling her closer in his embrace.

"Thank you, I wouldn't have knew that you kept this feeling if you never told me in the first place. And stop thinking that you're not good enough, because you're a fine woman in my eyes," he spoke in a low voice directly to her ear and she felt ecstatic to hear him said that.

Tsukuyo was delightful in his hug, she felt protected in his arms and the sound of his voice soothed her soul. She planted her body deeper and hugged him tight on the waist.

"Thank you... for everything you've done for me," she said to him while leaning on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"So, will you accept me from now on?" he asked her sincerely.

She looked at him in the eyes and answered without any hesitation, "Of course I do," she brought her body up and kissed him again on the lips.

For that night, the rooftop was reserved for the two newfound couple. They scanned the dim sky with brimming stars together and told a few stories the others never heard about. They sat there together through the night in each other's arms, awaiting for the new tomorrow that lies in front of them.

End

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(A/N)

I want to thank all of you who read this fic and also faved this story. I really appreciate the enthusiasm that you guys put for this story through the reviews.

Once again, thank you and let's meet again in the next works :D

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I hope I won't have to watch the last movie alone coz none of my friend had fully finished Gintama :')