Hey guys, Murayama Tsuru here. Happy New Year everybody! No…it's not late…no, I didn't forget to write this story at the proper time and then remember a few days ago when the internet on my computer was still out…That's not now it happened (it totally is). But putting my forgetful laziness aside, I hope you enjoy this (late) New Year's Eve Oneshot ^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama; it belongs to Sorachi Hideaki-Sensei
"You want to do what tonight?" Gin asked as he put down the volume of Shonen Jump he had just been reading, an eyebrow arched high on his forehead.
Shinpachi rolled his eyes, "Kagura and I think we should celebrate New Year's Eve tonight."
So, his ears hadn't been deceiving him, he really did hear Shinpachi say he wanted a New Year's Eve party tonight. So, eyebrow still raised and skeptecisim in his voice, Gin asked the first question that came to his mind, "Why?"
Shinpachi rolled his eyes again, "You weren't listening to a word I was saying, were you?"
"Well that was entirely your fault, uh-huh" Kagura interrupted, "I told you we shouldn't have tried to ask him about this when he was reading his jump. If you want Gin-chan to say yes to something, you have to ask him while he's eating a strawberry parfait, then he'll say yes to anything."
Gin was tempted to protest that (even though it was pretty much true), but before he could, Shinpachi cleared his throat and continued speaking, "Thinking about the best time to ask Gin-san for a favor aside, I was saying that, since we didn't spend Christmas Eve with you again this year, we should do something to make up for it."
"But, why New Year's Eve? It's a little late for that now isn't it."
"Yeah, well…" Shinpachi started, sweatdropping more than a little bit, "it seems as if Tsuru-san forgot about writing this on the day itself and she only just remembered just recently…"
"There's been a lot of that going around, hasn't there?" Gin responded, more than a little annoyance in his voice, "I mean, in her other story, I've been walking to some sewers for about a month now. Why should I say yes to this?"
"Oh, quit being so petulant, Gin-san." Shinpachi said, "let's just have a party already. It's not like we ever celebrate New Year's on time anyways. You're usually so laid back about this, so what's up this time?"
Gin looked away from the other two Yorozuya members then, not wanting to tell them that the real reason he was reluctant to have a New Year's Eve party was because he didn't particularly want to see his former teacher. He had heard from Katsura what had happened on Halloween, and despite missing Shouyou-Sensei so much it hurt, he didn't really want to see him again.
But, it was 10 days after New Year's, so Shouyou-Sensei probably wasn't going to appear. Maybe. So, after a silent intake of breath, Gin returned his gaze to Shinpachi and Kagura and said, "Fine, we'll have it your way. What do we need to do to get ready for the party?"
As Gin finished speaking, Shinpachi was looking decidedly sheepish. Eyebrow once again rising, the silver-haired Samurai asked, "What's wrong now?"
When Shinpachi still didn't say anything after a while, Kagura rolled her eyes and said, "Shinpachi's just embarrassed because he already got all the stuff ready without your permission, uh-huh. He was planning to make it a surprise until he had everything ready. But, then I found out and thought that it would be a better idea to tell you, uh-huh!"
The sheepish look melted off of Shinpachi's face at that, "That's not how it happened, Kagura-chan! You were the one who wanted to keep it a secret…"
"However it happened," Gin interrupted, before an argument would erupt between Shinpachi and Kagura, "it's too late to back out now. So, let's get started, we don't have all day now, do we."
Both Kagura and Shinpachi broke out in grins at that and said simultaneously, "Yeah, let's get started!"
Hours later, the Yorozuya was a huge mess and both Kagura and Shinpachi were snoring away under the Kotatsu. It had been quite a fun party; making fun of Shinpachi, eating sweets, making fun of Shinpachi… It had been so much fun that, eventually, Kagura and Shinpachi had fallen asleep out of sheer exhaustion, leaving Gin all by himself.
Gin, still wide awake (much too wired to sleep now), moved away from his two snoring brats with a cup of Sake in one hand and the bottle of said Sake in the other (Shinpachi had surprised him with an expensive-looking bottle as a present). The Silver-haired Samurai walked quietly as he could over to the other side of the Yorozuya. Outside the large window, Gin got a nice view of the full moon; perfect view for drinking Sake. With a contented sigh, the silver-haired Samurai took a long gulp of the alcohol from the bottle, eyes fixed on that beautiful silver ball.
After he'd taken the bottle from his lips, a voice said, "I see you haven't broken that habit of drinking straight from the bottle, Gintoki. That really isn't a very polite thing to do."
Without turning around, Gin responded, "Well, I didn't know I'd have company tonight other than my two brats. And, I don't usually let them drink, so I didn't really see a problem."
Gin heard a chuckle and the voice said, "Really, you didn't expect any company? But, I watched earlier and you seemed to have reservations about holding this party in the first place. I imagined it was because of me. Was I wrong?"
This time Gin sighed and turned around, coming face to face with Shouyou-Sensei, "No, I did expect you, I heard that you visited on Halloween from Zura. I just temporarily forgot is all. If you really want a drink, I can just wipe off the bottle. But, I never knew ghosts were so picky about what they drank…"
"We're not," Shouyou replied, "but I don't think I'll be doing much drinking anyway. As you can see, I'm a little transparent at the moment."
"Ah," Gin said with a smile, "I have a remedy for that. You see, during Obon, me and Kagura fought a Shinigami and got his Haori of the underworld as a prize. So, if you just give me a minute, I can go get it and we can have a drink together. How does that sound?"
Before Shouyou could say anything either in the affirmative or in the negative, Gin had already disappeared into his room, making his former teacher chuckle. A few moments later, Gin was back holding the Haori of the Underworld that he had won from the Shinigami during Obon. As soon as said Haori touched Shouyou's hand, he turned solid.
Smile still in place, Gin's former teacher slipped the Haori over his shoulder and said, "I must say, this is an excellent idea Gintoki. It's too bad you were drunk when I visited during Halloween and not there when I visited Shinsuke. All four of us could have had a wonderful party…it makes me wish a little more that you hadn't drunk that Sake straight out of the bottle…"
"Sensei…" Gin whined, not really liking the prospect of being reprimanded by his teacher, it made him feel like he was a little kid again. But then, something Shouyou said, made Gin pause. When he finally registered his Sensei's words, he said incredulously, "Wait, you visited Bakasugi? When?"
Shouyou sighed, "I really wish you would stop calling Shinsuke that, it's no wonder you two don't get along very well…you really haven't changed, have you? To answer your question, I went to see Shinsuke during that Amanto holiday, Veterans' Day. It was quite sad, really, he hasn't given up that silly notion for revenge yet. And I doubt my being there helped at all…For some reason, he was jealous that you helped us out during Obon and that I had gone to see Katsura and you during Halloween before coming to see him. Sometimes I don't understand that boy…"
Gin's teacher sighed again, looking forlorn. After a moment of reflection on how ridiculous Takasugi was acting, Gin offered his teacher the cup of Sake he hadn't taken a sip from yet, saying, "Hey, let's not dwell on Bakasugi at the moment. It's party time here in the Yorozuya after all. Although we're more than a little late, we're celebrating the New Year tonight."
"You're absolutely right, Gintoki, I'm sorry for ruining the mood."
Gin waved his Sensei's apology off, "Don't worry about it. I was beginning to feel the party mood wear off after all. My two brats are asleep and so I was left alone with my thoughts. Nothing good ever comes of that. So, I really should be thanking you Sensei. Now, let's drink to ring in the new year!"
Shouyou nodded, "I'm very proud of the Samurai you've become, Gintoki. Those 'two brats', as you so affectionately call them, couldn't be in better hand." Gin grinned widely at the unexpected praise. Then, both teacher and student raised their Sake cups to their lips.
The next morning, both Shinpachi and Kagura were woken up by Gin's loud snoring. As they were trying to look for him, they smelled the booze thick in the air and knew that their sort of boss had spent the night drinking. When the two finally found him, though, they were surprised to see two Sake cups (although the bottle of Sake being empty didn't surprise them at all) and Gin lying on the floor with the Haori of the Underworld that he had won from that silly Shinigami draped over him.
Shinpachi was perfectly ready to let Gin sleep off his hangover at the moment. But, before he could suggest to Kagura that they let the silver-haired Samurai sleep a little longer, the Yato girl was alredy yelling, "Gin-chan, wake up, uh-huh!"
There was a tense moment of silence in which Shinpachi was getting ready to flee the room (hungover Gin-san was pretty scary after all).But the only sound of protest (and sign that Gin was now awake) at Kagura's yelling was an irritated groan. The silver-haired Samurai then sat up, clutching his head, "Kagura-chan, why did you wake me up? You couldn't have let me sleep a little more?"
Kagura countered Gin's question with one of her own, "Well, Gin-chan, why did you drink so much then? If you didn't want to feel like you do now, you shouldn't have had so much Sake, uh-huh."
"It wasn't like I had much of a choice." Gin groaned, "I had a guest after you guys fell asleep. I had no idea he could drink so much…Ugh…"
At that, both Kagura and Shinpachi rose their eyebrows and asked, "What guest?"
With a smile, Gin gestured to the Haori of the Underworld that was still draped around his shoulders, "Someone I hadn't seen for a very long time." Was all he said
完 (The End)
And that is the end of that! And the end of this series of oneshots…probably. And, that's all I have to say. Happy New Year's guys. See you next story! And, as always, if you'd like, please review, I love to know what you guys think! See you next story ^_^
-村山鶴
