Desclaimer: I don't own Gintama .
Author's Note: Sorry for not updating this story for soooo long, I just haven't found the time to do it, but since it's summer for me, I have now ^^. Thank you Kurasuchi, Blueberry, Guest, Superemopowerz, AnabellaGC, Sai, Laffy 50, Reylyn, Guest (2), Rei-chu Asakura (Woah your reviews were long, ty very much for your enthusiasm :DD) and asiklkisa. I wouldn't have gone this far without my readers xDD, and arrrghh! I can't wait to introduce Tsukuyo into the story! ;A;
Chapter 11: Trip planning...
Kagura sighed softly as she put her pencil down. She was finally finished with her last exam, and then summer was next to come. She remained seated, watching Gintoki passively read his shonen jump, making a small smile appear on her face. Kagura blushed when Gintoki glanced at her through the corner of his glasses, making her look away in embarassment. Just this morning did she wake up cradled against his well toned body.
"Alright everyone, pencils down," Gintoki says, standing up only for his height to show. He was tall, he had tree trunk arms and rippling pects, he had a sharp jawline and was fairly tanned. Kagura blushed just by seeing him walk her way in his suit and tie. He passed by without showing a hint of their outside relationship as he took her paper up. Kagura tried to fan her face.
"Tests are officially over," Gintoki says staring at his wrist watch, and a sigh of relief came out from everybody's lips.
[Lunch]
The bell finally rang. Others went out, others stayed in class. Kagura walked out of the classroom, only to be greeted by Gintoki holding up a packed bentou which he prepared for the both of them this morning. "The weather's nice today," Gintoki says with a soft smile. "Wanna eat at the rooftop?" Gintoki asks, and Kagura nodded.
As the two entered the rooftop, Kagura took a deep breath and a deep breath out. The air in the upper altitude was fresh and breezy. The two excitedly made their way to the edge of the rooftop where they could see the city in clear view.
"Kagura, I brought you here for a reason today," Gintoki says, taking his glasses off. Kagura looked up at him in puzzlement. "You wanna go on a trip for summer?" Gintoki asks, making Kagura blush madly. She didn't know why, but the thought of a trip where they would have to spend a night together and a whole day together…The thought just made her blush.
"W…Where?" She asked hesitantly and at the same time eagerly.
"Anywhere you want. The beach, the mountains, or even just a neighboring town," Gintoki says leaning closer to her and leaving his food untouched, and making her lean back. He caressed her cheeks softly and looked at her with a soft smile that wasn't wholly innocent, and his soft gaze feasted on her with an appetite she's never seen before, as she continued to lean back and he continue to creep closer, leaving her almost lying down. This made Kagura frown with a deep shade of red, yet feel a weird heat inside her body.
"You're not thinking about that are you?" Kagura asked seriously, making Gintoki snap from his own thoughts, and he sat up right away.
"…No," Gintoki whistled looking away, making Kagura gasp with a blush. "So you were thinking about that!" Kagura punched him, and he whimpers and apologizes in a joking way. They both halted when they heard footsteps coming towards them. Gintoki quickly packed their lunch right away, and pulled her up by the hand, and hid themselves behind the structure that led to the stairs.
Kagura blushed and her jaws dropped lightly when realized she was sat in between his legs because they didn't have enought time to bother about that. Kagura could feel his warm chest against her back elevating up and down with every breath he took. She could feel the muscles of his chest, which made her blush even more. Running out of energy, Kagura tiredly tilted her head to the side, unintentionally revealing the soft nape of her pale neck to the older man, and making him uncomfortably blush madly. He frowned at himself and covered half of his face to hide the blush.
The footsteps stopped, making them hold their breath. "Hello, father?" Kagura's eyes widened in alarm and surprise after hearing Sougo's voice.
"I'm going to arrive in the company a little late," Sougo said, looking at the city boredly.
"…Why?" His father asked, making Sougo remain silent for a few seconds. He wasn't in the mood to make any excuse. "Just because."
"Because of Kagura?" Sougo felt his soul jolt and his knees weaken just by hearing his father say her name. How does he know? Is he going to do anything bad to her? Sougo worried with fear, thinking of his dear love.
"Father, what are you-" Sougo asked, but he couldn't find a continuation to his question. He could hear his father laugh through the phone a laugh that wasn't evil, but a friendly laugh, which made Sougo raise his eyebrows. He clenched his fist and jaws, thinking that his father was toying with him.
"If you're so worried about her…you better make the right decisions," Sougo's father hung up as if he had just left a cryptic message, and Sougo felt like he was stabbed, making him stagger in his place.
"What…" Sougo thought with a new fear towards his father…
Kagura could smell the fear that Sougo was feeling, but right now, she had other things in mind like how Gintoki suddenly pulled her into a back hug and nustled his head on the nape of her neck. It was soothing and comforting, and at the same time, nauseating. It made her melt in his arms. Without her noticing, Gintoki had a frown on his face just at the thought of Sougo because he knew Sougo had his sights on Kagura. It was annoying…
Finally, he walked back into the building, and Kagura drooped her shoulders after letting her guard down, but Gintoki doesn't move an inch. Kagura didn't know what to do, but she stayed quiet in deep thought. She ran her finger through his soft hair and laughed. "Hey, if you wanna go on that trip, then we can go," Kagura laughed because right now Gintoki reminded her of Sadaharu. Gintoki's head immediately shot up and stared at the younger girl.
"Really? I'll go if you want to go," Gintoki says with caution, and Kagura looked over her shoulder and glanced at him. "Of course, I'd love to go with you," Kagura says, brushing her hair to the side, twisting her upper body, and cupped his face and kissed him gently. Gintoki was caught off guard by her sudden move, but seeing the blush on her face told him about the courage she had to gather up for that move. Gintoki closed his eyes to cherish this moment…It was magic.
[After School]
Kagura blushed, replaying the scene that happened at lunch in her head. She hit herself in the head cutely, thinking that she shouldn't have done that. As she walked out of the school gate, she sees Sougo leaning back at the school gate, and she shakes her head to remind herself to ignore him.
"Kagura," she flinched and frowned when he called out to her. She sighed.
"What?" Kagura asks in an annoyed way, but hides it so he doesn't realize it. He looks on the ground, pondering about whether he should asks her about her health condition, but puts the thought aside. He looks at her.
"I'll cut to the chase…Please go out with me, if only this summer," He says as if he had just swallowed his pride. Kagura didn't even have to think about the answer. "Give me this last chance, please," She was about to open her mouth, but closed it when all of a sudden, she remembered the time when she confessed to him…
"I…" She remained quiet. "I'm busy this summer, so…" Brushing past his shoulders, she paced faster to get away from him as far as possible, because just then, she remembered how she used to love him so much, and she feared for her own morality, because…After suppressing her feelings towards him for so long, she felt that they might just come back. It scared her. Her heart was racing as she continued, and her palms started to sweat, and she didn't know why…
I don't like him anymore, get a grip on yourself! Kagura hissed to herself and then flashbacks started to race through her head about their relationship…Their relationship was different from what she had with Gintoki…With Gintoki, he was like the light house, lighting up her darkened world and giving her something to cherish once more, but with Sougo, it was that innocent childlike love, like having that innocent, pure crush…She shook her head and didn't think of Sougo any longer…
[The Last day of School]
Kagura stared outside of the window and looked at the parents of the third years walking out of the gate now that the graduation ceremony has ended. She blankly thought of Hijikata who knows something about her that the others didn't know…
The rest of the class was talking, when all of a sudden, the third years entered the classroom with their diplomas. Kamui, Takasugi and Katsura walked her way, making her smile. "Congratulations, Onii-chan, dead last and Zura," She said with a grin, making them smile at the younger lady. "Don't look so lonely," Kamui said, ruffling her hair, making Kagura blush the way Kamui had noticed…The three walked to their seats, when Hijikata walked through the door. Her and his eyes met, and for some reason, Kagura couldn't pull away. His eyes were magnetic.
Kagura finally looked away when the others called out Hijikata. "Hey, Imouto," Kamui said to her, and she snapped out of her trance. "Hmm?" She said, looking at her older brother.
"You know, if you ever get too lonely, you can always move in with me," Kamui said, and her eyes widened because she had never even thought about it before. The thought of moving in with him made her happy, but that would've meant being farther away from Gintoki…Kagura smiled. "Thanks onii-chan," Kagura said, and Kamui smiled. Gintoki walked in, making the class turn quiet.
"Congratulations to the 3rd years for graduating," He says with an eye smile. "You're hard work paid off, huh?" He says dryly with a slight chuckle.
[Later That night]
"Cheers!" the whole class said with merry faces, making a toast to the third years. Sarutobi had proposed that they have a party for the third years, but fact is, she just wanted to have a little get together.
"Gin-sensei, you better pay for this," Sarutobi said half joking half serious, making Gintoki's face grow dark, while the students laughed. They ate their meal in peacefully loud talking. Kagura and Gintoki who were seated together just engaged in a silent conversation that only the two of them could hear about. Of course, Sougo was quick to notice this…Gintoki glanced over to him and give him an evil smirk that said I-won. Sougo fumed by himself in a corner, making Kagura and Gintoki laugh to themselves.
"I feel sorry for your wallet," Kagura said loosely with a laugh, and Gintoki sighed nodding his head. Kagura smiled like a cat, until when all of a sudden in the corner of her mind she thought of Hijikata. He was silent for the most part, but retorted to whatever Shinpachi was nagging about.Well, he looks like he's enjoying himself Kagura thought lonely-ly with a smile, but she flinched when Hijikata slowly turned to her way, their eyes meeting. She felt an odd connection, kinda like she would feel jittery and bubbly as a kid because you had a secret that only you and this certain person knows about, and in this case, it was her health condition she shared with Hijikata.
Hijikata flashed her a small smile, catching Kagura off guard. "Hey, if you don't eat your food, it'll get cold," Gintoki hit her forehead cutely, making her snap out of her trans. "Haha, yeah," Kagura replied, and went back to eating. Once everybody was done, they walked out. One by one, they've said their goodbyes and set off to go home, while Gintoki was still in the restaurant, paying the bill for everyone. It wasn't long before it was just Kagura and Hijikata left.
They stood in awkward silence, after not talking to each other for a long while. Hijikata cleared his throat and Kagura played with her hair. Kagura suddenly remembered how she heard about Hijikata's crush on her, making her blush with a frown and her lips slightly open. Kagura glanced over to her, and he glanced in reply on purpose.Looks like he isn't going away soon…Kagura thought dryly. That was when she noticed how Hijikata's changed. A lot.
He now had broader shoulders, he easily towered over her and his eyes were more tantilizing than ever; Those metallic blue eyes were mesmerizing…Kagura dared to make eye contact, and he didn't wait a second to do the same.
"Congratulations," She muttered silently, not expecting him to answer. After all, he's always tried to make contact with her, while after that scene the two had at the hospital, she wouldn't say any thing to him…
"Thanks," Hijikata replied with his deep voice, making her eyes widen when he suddenly leaned forward towards her and gently kissed her forehead. For some reason, it made Kagura feel a bit of sorrow. The kiss was like a lone plant in a barren land, or a single drop of water falling towards the sea. It was like a lonely goodbye…He leaned back and gave her one of his slow, infectious smile he used to have on everytime, but ever since the two had separated, she had seldom seen it.
"You've grown taller," Kagura says softly. "And you haven't grown at all," Hijikata says with a soft gaze, looking at her…"Goodbye," He says to her, and Kagura felt the loneliness in that goodbye, as if they wouldn't ever meet again. Kagura wasn't sure if they would meet again ever…The thought made a small pang of guilt and sorrow bubble in her chest. Kagura stared at his retreating figure, and noticed how his shoulders looked like they carried a burden; He has become a man.
"Kagura," Gintoki says, exiting the restaurant. Kagura nodded, whithout looking away. "Hm?" Kagura said with a gloomy tone, yet a contented tone, contented to have spoken to him one last time…
"Let us go home, shall we?" Gintoki put out his arms and Kagura wrapped her arms around his like they would at a ballroom party. The two walked in silence, enjoying the night breeze of summer.
"Gin-chan, I know where we should go," Kagura said, leaning on his hard arms. "You wanna go to Okinawa?" Kagura asked and Gintoki raised his eyebrows. "My mom's death anniversary is coming up, and I want to visit her grave," Kagura said, making Gintoki surprised. He's never heard about her mother before, but he'd never guessed she was dead.
"If that what makes you happy," Gintoki says, giving her a soft gently peck on her cheeks, which lingered in place.
"Plus, they have nice beaches there too," Kagura said with a smile, not wanting to put a damp towel on the conversation.
"By the way."
"Hm?"
"Why was Hijikata kissing you on the forehead?"
Ugh.
Author's Note: Not much drama in this chapter, which is pretty lame, I know, but next chappie, I'll try to make it as much drama as possible, especially now that they're going on their trip to Okinawa! Woot! By the way, I'm still looking for the perfect timing to bring in Tsukuyo to the story :3 I just wanted to make this chapter for Hijikata 3 love that piece of cake! Lmao! Remember everybody, Love & Peace!