Author's note: I do not own anything from Gintama. Please review! This story is unbetaed. Happy new year! Happy 2019! Still going strong Gintama. Thank you reviewers. (mehr03, 8579). Hope you like this next one!

Chapter 6: Anytime

Everyone was tired of it but Tae was busy arranging her hair again. She was so engrossed that she jumped when the bell rang, followed by a knock on the door. Once again, she smoothed the brown strands, checked herself twice in the mirror, closed her eyes, took a deep, deep breath, tugged at her new dress, and then rushed to the door. She made that smile before opening the door and welcoming her guest.

"Hello!" she grinned at the two men. TWO?

Toushi was extremely red on the cheeks but he was also smiling at her. "Hi Otae."

"Heyyy," Gintoki greeted. His eyes were half-open and he was sucking on a lollipop.

"Well, come in, both of you. I've been waiting…" Otae led them to the couch enthusiastically but deep inside she was fuming. Why the hell did Hijikata-san bring Gintoki along? The romantic atmosphere has been ruined! She let out a heavy breath, disappointed.

"You look nice," Toushi said shyly as he sat down.

"Thank you, Toushi." Tae gave him a genuine smile and straightened her back. She wore a sleeveless pink dress that fell just above her ankles. It was matched with her light pink sandals and glossy rose lip balm.

Gintoki eyed her head to toe. "I agree with Toushi, except you should add more padding." Hijikata kicked his shin and glared.

Tae felt her temper rising. "What padding? Excuse me?" She readied her fists.

"Pudding! I meant pudding! Do you have some?"

"Let me check…" She dashed to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. "I only have soda and milk."

"Soda please!" Toushi said.

"Okay… and what about you… Gin… san?" Tae tried her best to be a good host.

"Milk. Is that strawberry flavored?"

"Oddly… yes it is."

"All right!" He started looking around the place. "Your house looks nice. It's so neat and smells good."

"That's sweet of you, Gin." Otae laid the drinks on the table.

He frowned. "Thanks Otae, but I don't think I can drink two… I could have an upset stomach."

"What?" Tae stared at him, confused.

"You're thoughtful, giving me two drinks, but the milk is enough though… OWWW!" Toushi had kicked his shin again. "What?" He glared at him.

"Brilliant, aren't you Gintoki? The other drink isn't for you! It's Otae's!" Toushi elbowed his friend in the gut.

Gintoki stood up and threatened him with a fist. "Oh, you wanna go now?"

The two men started to have a silly fight but within seconds, Tae realized that they were only playing around. She laughed while watching them. They were all having fun that none of them realized when someone else had arrived and entered the room.

"What in the world is going on, Otae? If I find out that you've brought another weirdo to our home, then I'm gonna murder you-" Sacchan started but gasped when she saw Gintoki. "G-G-Gin?"

The other three stopped and turned to her.

"W-w-what are you doing here?" Her entire face and body was blushing. She crossed her arms over her chest as she stared.

"Oh, hello Sacchan," Toushi greeted her, embarrassed.

"Sacchan, you're back!" Tae looked sheepish.

"What the hell is this crazy woman doing here?" Gintoki demanded, looking horrified.

"I live here," Sacchan said as she stepped closer, arms still crossed in front of her. She only looked at Gin, as if he was the lone person in the room.

"Stay back!"

"You're here…" she said in a daze, as if she couldn't believe her eyes.

"Hellooo, Sacchan… Otae and I are here too," Toushi muttered.

Sacchan's eyes snapped to him. "What's up with that Lenny face, Toshiro?"

That made Gintoki laugh. "See? I told you, you have that Lenny face going on."

Toushi gritted his teeth, annoyed with the two ganging-up on him. "I'm just happy, okay? Stop picking on my face!"

"Yeah, leave him alone. He can't help it if he looks weird," Tae joked.

"Wait… Are we forgetting the real question here? Why is Gin-san at my home?" Sacchan asked, hands on her hips.

"Your home?" Tae was frowning.

"I meant, at our home. I didn't know he was coming over!" I could have worn a nicer outfit, she lamented.

"Hey stalker babe, what is it to you? Don't I have the right to visit my friend, Otae?" Gintoki raged.

"S-s-stalker babe?"

"Otae, does it mean that she lives here too?" Gintoki groaned. "I didn't know that. If I had known then I wouldn't have gone with Mr. Mayo here."

Tae peered at him apologetically. "Well, now you know."

"Gintoki, don't be stupid. We guys live together at your place… Then there's a possibility that Otae and Sacchan live together too, right?" Toushi smiled at Tae and she did so in return. They stared at each other for a moment.

"Yes, all of us girls live together too," Tae murmured, blushing.

Gintoki stood up and headed for the door. "Toushi, I'm outta here."

"What?"

"What?"

"WHAT?" Sacchan rushed to him.

"I said that I'm leaving, didn't you hear me?" he snarled at her.

"But I just arrived."

"Exactly. That's why I'm leaving."

She bit her lip. "Oh… Well… I…" Why was he so harsh and hateful? Oh but her heart was speeding up again. "No, Gin, don't bother… I'll leave." Sacchan opened the door and had one foot out when he dragged her back by the arm.

"Oh no you don't! I'm the one who's leaving!" he yelled at her.

"No, I am!" Sacchan inched forward.

"No, me!"

"I said, me!"

"I said it first!"

"I'm leaving and that's final!" she screeched.

"Look," he shook her, "you just stay put here in your house, and I'm going!" He looked her straight in the eye and glared.

"Don't you dare try to copy me!" Sacchan felt a thrill as he rattled her.

"I'm not, you're the one doing it!" He edged forward dangerously, trying to intimidate her.

"No, you are!" She stood her ground despite the wobbling of her heart.

"You little-" Gintoki stopped and looked at her. He realized that they were as close as that time from the park when he accidentally swooped in and took her in his arms. If they weren't arguing, they could have been kissing right now. He shivered, feeling unsettled. He couldn't even resume his screams, because he felt so much hesitation, unsure of what to do next. In the background, he could hear Toushi and Tae laughing and commenting on some stupid TV commercial.

"I used to wear that when I was a kid."

"Oh, me too!"

"Okay Gin, if that's what you want," Sacchan said finally, "you can go and I'm staying." Her voice wavered and she looked away.

"No, I've decided that I want to stay."

"Wait a minute-"

"Hey you guys," Otae interrupted, "why don't you both stay? You can entertain each other for a while."

"But please do it with a lower volume," Toushi added.

Sacchan bit her lip, "I guess…"

"No way!" Gin stepped back from Sacchan and held his palms up to keep her away. "I'd rather watch television with you guys."

"I can give you a tour of our apartment," she squealed at him. "Wanna see my room?"

"God, no!" Gintoki cried, exasperated. He moved near the television and sat on the rug.

"Come on, Gin-san. Let Otae and Toushi have their alone time," Sacchan insisted, making the two blush.

"I said, don't call me that!" He kept himself glued to the floor. "I'd rather be dead than be alone with you."

Sacchan frowned and disappeared upstairs, looking dejected.

Gintoki felt the sweat form in his brow. "Well, that got rid of her. My god!"

Toushi and Tae were frowning at him, shaking their heads. "You should have kissed her," Tae said.

"Yeah, why didn't you?" Toushi asked curiously.

"You're both sick in the head!"

"You know," Tae started, "you really hurt her feelings there." Gintoki noticed that she and Toushi had moved closer together and their thighs were touching.

"Be nicer to women, Gintoki, especially those who show interest in you."

"What? Hey, Toushi, I'm not obligated to do that."

"No, but well, you were too much. Right, Otae?"

"Yes… Maybe you should go have that tour?"

Toushi was giving him the evil eye. "Uh-huh Gintoki, why don't you leave? Didn't you want to earlier?"

He rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll give you guys your alone time."

Gintoki tiptoed upstairs, checking left and right rooms for a girl with purple hair. He snickered, even her hair was ridiculous and riling him up. He found her at the end room, sitting on the bed with her back turned. She didn't look up when he stepped closer and Gintoki saw that she was busy using her cellphone. It gleamed in the darkness.

"Hey," he called tentatively.

She jumped and screamed at his sudden presence. Her phone fell on the floor with a crack. "No!" Sacchan cried in dismay.

Gintoki picked it up and checked it before handing it back to her. "It survived," he said, trying to be nice.

"You!" She stared at him wide-eyed.

Frustrated, he sighed really loud. "Please stop looking like that every time you see me."

"Like what?"

"Uh… Like you're high or something." He tried to keep it benign.

"Oh." She turned away and returned to using her phone. "I'm sorry. I wasn't aware."

There was silence.

Gintoki squinted in the darkness. "So, this is your room, huh?"

"Yes."

"It's… nice." There. Wasn't he nice? Can he go now?

"Thanks…"

Why is it so damn awkward? He felt like he transported back to that time when he had to apologize. It certainly led to something odd. There was no way he was making a repeat performance.

Sacchan ignored him and continued to tap on her gadget.

"Where are the other girls?" he asked, trying to diffuse the discomfort while he stood uncertainly at the doorway.

"Mutu's sleeping beauty in her room and Kyuubei's out on a date," she answered nonchalantly.

"Oh… She's dating someone?"

"No. Her grandfather. I guess they ate at some fancy restaurant." She shrugged.

"Grandfather?" Gintoki was getting curious.

"Yes. They're really rich." She shrugged again.

Gintoki, unable to contain himself, stepped into the room. "Sacchan, about earlier… Downstairs… Maybe I was too harsh." He took a deep breath. "You're just so unpredictable and stuff…"

She turned to him. "I thought you'd rather be dead than come up here?"

"That was an exaggeration!"

"Well, you probably regret it now."

Which one, he wondered? Saying it or coming up here? "I think I'm in less danger than I initially thought."

"Good for you then," she stood and tried to walk out the door but he blocked her way.

"Stop it. Stop making me feel like such a jerk."

"Let me out," she demanded as she pushed her way through. They struggled since Gintoki didn't allow her to just leave with her being angry like that. Well, he won the scuffle and so they found themselves on the floor with Gintoki over her.

"I-" he started to say but he was once again interrupted by that look in her eyes. Why was she always staring at him in that manner? He could hear her breaths going by so fast and then he noticed that he was the same. He saw that the strap of her dress had slipped down her shoulder and only then did he realize that she wasn't wearing anything underneath. Gintoki looked at her again to see that she was biting her lip. They were so close but then… "I'm taken," he gasped and stood off her. "I have a girlfriend."

"What did you think I was doing?" she asked while adjusting the strap of her dress. She watched the floor as she sat up. "I have a boyfriend."

"You're right, this was a mistake." Gintoki ran down the stairs and spotted Toushi and Tae in an embrace. "Not you too!"

They leaped away from each other to both ends of the couch. Tae laughed. "The programme's getting boring, let's listen to music instead."

Toushi nodded eagerly. "Sure." He tried to discreetly rearrange his hair and clothes. Gintoki rolled his eyes at him.

Tae stood up to turn on her Bluetooth speaker and connected it to her phone's Spotify app. She clicked 'shuffle' to play a song. The intro music to 'Can't Stop the Feeling!' started and she turned up the volume. She swayed to the music while singing along. Toushi was mesmerized.

"Nice upbeat tune," he commented.

"This song gives me so much energy," she said while smiling at him (again).

Gintoki agreed, it was certainly a bop. He did his own little dance which made the other two laugh.

"I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good soul in my feet…" Someone started to sing along. The three of them turned around to see Sacchan descending the stairs while dancing. "I feel that hot BLOODY DAMN YOU GUYS ARE STILL HERE?" she screamed. "I thought you left," she said in a softer voice.

"No one was looking for you," Gin muttered.

"Well, I just heard a really nice song that made me wanna dance…" she stated feebly.

"Oh come on, you two! Don't start again!" Tae pleaded while dancing. She waved Sacchan over.

"Let Otae sing and dance… in peace." Toushi was nodding his head to the beat. He was soooo cute, Tae thought.

Sacchan took a large detour around the other side to avoid Gintoki and sat beside Toshiro. But once the chorus played, she stood and danced with Tae. "Love this part." There was no way she was going to let Gintoki ruin her mood.

"It just played on shuffle," Tae told her.

"Niiice."

Gintoki coughed. "So… Kyuubei's out with her grandfather?"

"Huh?" The two girls looked at him distractedly.

"Oh!" Tae explained, "They have that thing where they see each other every now and then. Kyuubei's an only child and she's going to inherit the family fortune and business. They can afford anything."

"Huh. Must be such a big responsibility for a girl like her."

"Her family thought so too. So they actually raised her like a boy… But Kyuubei… She's her own person. She does what she wants."

"If she's so rich, why does she live here with you guys?"

Sacchan pursed her lips. "She adores Otae."

"Hey!" Tae protested. "Kyuu-chan just has a big place in her heart for her friends. She's humble and doesn't flaunt her wealth."

"Remember when we attended her last birthday party?"

"They reserved an entire five-star hotel for the celebration," Tae recalled. "But the alcohol was too much… People were drinking in the pool."

Sacchan laughed. "I was one of them."

"What's wrong with drinking in the pool?" Toushi wondered. He had done that a few years back. And smoking too.

Gintoki knocked him on the head. "You could drown, moron."

"At least I know how to swim."

Sacchan laughed again. "What? You can't swim?" She looked at Gintoki weirdly.

"He can't. Gintoki needs floaters with him."

"Oh. My. Gosh." She shook her head, amused. "Are you serious?"

"I'm gonna kill you, Toushiro." Gintoki approached his friend. Toushi got up and ran while Gintoki chased him. They spent a few minutes playing tag in the living room. Sacchan and Tae watched them, wordlessly bewildered.

"Anyway," Sacchan spoke up, "the food was really good. Too bad it costs so much."

"Some people have all the luck," Toushi grumbled when he sat back down.

"Hey," Tae nudged him, "some things are more important than riches, right?"

He smiled at her. "Yeah, they are."

"I had a really great time," Toushi said to Tae at the door when they were leaving. "Thank you."

"Me too. You can come around anytime."

"Okay." Toushi still had that Lenny face aura.

"Well, then…"

"Toushi? Let's go!" Gintoki was yelling from the elevator.

"Well, uh…" Toushi cleared his throat.

"Yes?" Tae smiled in anticipation.

"Do you have plans tomorrow?" He was really getting the hang of being this forward.

Tae pretended to think and then she said, "No, I'm free tomorrow." Her grin was so cheeky.

"Do you want to go out with me?" Toushi wiped the sweat on his forehead.

"Okay.. What time are we going?" She was staring at him, making him blush like crazy.

"Is seven too early?" He was always an early riser. "Eight, I guess?"

Tae beamed at him. "That's good."

"Otae… I just want you to know that-" He scratched his ear, nervous.

"TOUSHI ARE YOU GUYS KISSING OR SOMETHING?" Gintoki's loud voice emanated from the outside. They both blushed at his words.

"I should go…" Toushi laughed. "Gintoki's going wild."

"I'll see you… Tomorrow," Tae bid farewell.

"Bye, Otae." He smiled and then ran to the elevator.

"Bye… Toushiro," she whispered to his back. Tae sighed dreamily, staring into space and closed the door. She floated back inside, bathed in a mixture of elation, excitement, glee, giddiness, warmth, insanity, infatuation, etcetera.

"Finally, the men are gone!" Sacchan exclaimed from the couch. Her voice made Tae snap back to the present.

"Yeah…" she said weakly.

"Hey… Otae…"

"What?"

"What is up with that Lenny face of yours?"

"Stop it! I've had enough of that Lenny face today!" She playfully punched Sacchan on the arm and they both laughed. She unlocked her phone and clicked 'shuffle' to play another song.