Author's note: I do not own anything from Gintama. Please review after reading, my awesome readers! This story is unbetaed. Btw, this is NOT THE FULL VERSION due to site restrictions. You may check out my tumblr / wordpress / livejournal / AO3 for the detailed chapters. This is the epilogue/end of this story but I'll call it chapter 21 instead. Just had to say this: Next year, if things work out, I'll get a comforter set for my bed. :P

Chapter 21: It's Not over Till It's Over, Or until the Cat Lady Sings

"Get up lazy ass and start paying your rent! Just because you've been away for months, it doesn't warrant a pass from your debts!"

Gintoki opened his eyes, wondering if he was having another nightmare. He hadn't slept much, the headache he was feeling was a big clue. Even the thoughts from last night were still fresh in his mind. He lay on the couch for hours… conflicted, trying to understand the pang in his heart.

Sacchan…

Tsukuyo…

Sacchan again…

And Tsukuyo…

Last night, he gave up on sleep and instead flipped through several manga volumes as his heart hammered, its sound almost blaring to his own ears. Failing to calm him, he tossed the JUMPs away and scanned a few porn magazines instead. Maybe they would help.

Because a woman, a female whom he desired and wanted to take right now was only a few steps away from him. He simply had to walk to his room and have his way with her. She was willing too, he knew it.

Gintoki grunted at the page display on his hands. A pink-haired woman in glasses was handcuffed to a post, her body in full view. She had curves, elaborate ones and her posture left nothing to the imagination. His groin tightened and he returned the magazine to its hiding place underneath the floorboards. It only aggravated his need.

He spent a few moments at the entrance to his room, his hand ready to slide the doors open. His brain, his heart and his manhood debated on whether or not he should pursue his yearnings.

But he thought of Tsukuyo, feeling a sense of devotion and responsibility. He left her temporarily to find Sacchan and make things right, then took her back to Kabukicho just to keep his peace of mind, nothing else. It was over, and it was time to reunite with Tsukuyo.

Still at odds with himself, Gintoki dashed to the bathroom, deciding to take care of things in the most honorable way – by his own hands. His thoughts as he addressed it didn't matter. At least his actions made up for it. Then he took a cold, cold bath… to stop the madness and to punish himself. Exhaustion took over afterwards and he finally slept.

But now, an old lady's nagging was ringing in his ears.

"Oi! What's the matter with you, granny? It's too early in the morning for your tirades." He sat up and looked around. Who let Otose in the house anyway? "I'll pay the rent… Just wait, I'm still sorting things out." Gintoki sighed and let his head fall to his palms. He was still drowsy… and the smell of breakfast was filling his nostrils. That could only mean-

"Good morning, Gin-san!" Shinpachi walked to him, shaking his head. "Kagura didn't come home last night or is she up already? Impossible! And why were you sleeping on the couch? Why is your room all neat and clean? Everything's in order! And who is cooking breakfast? Kagura? No way!"

"Oi, Shinpachi… Shut your trap. We've just returned and now you're back to your old routine? Don't you have anything else to do? And did you let the old lady in?"

Otose huffed. "Tama spotted you when you arrived. I want that rent money. And I wanted to check up on you youngsters. At least you're awake now, Gintoki."

"Gin-san! Why is the floor all shiny? Even your desk's been organized."

"Huh?" Gintoki's head was spinning.

"I've seen Tsukuyo around before she headed back to Yoshiwara. She didn't say much except that you left in a hurry. Trying to dodge your dues, huh? You still have a large sum to pay off with that drinking habit of yours!" She started on a cigarette. "What the fuck? Who did you take home last night, you immoral son of a bitch?" Her gaze was directed behind him.

Even Shinpachi let out a loud yelp. "Sacchan-san? Y- You're here!" His eyes darted from Gintoki to Sacchan, who was wearing an apron. But she had some clothes underneath.

"Hello Shinpachi, Otose-san." She bowed slightly then turned to him. "G- Good morning Gin-san… I've been making breakfast."

Otose stared, her eyes wide and accusing. Her finger was pointing at them. "I have no idea what kind of set-up you have here but this place isn't some kind of free for all motel where you can just do whatever you want." She lowered her face to Gintoki's. "First you bring home a little girl who eats more than a third world country, then she drags some oversized snow mutt here soon enough. Then you sweep some Yoshiwaran lady off her feet and also end up bringing her here to make her your wife. Then she leaves you. Now, you've returned from a heroic search for your long, lost love… You return with her… But also have another woman on another night, and now she's cooking breakfast for you." Otose puffed on her cigarette. "I knew you would eventually give in to this woman's sick proposals. It doesn't matter. Just pay the rent!"

"Granny, please, it's too early to be berated like a little boy. I said I'd pay you-"

"I'll do it, I'll pay you, Otose-san," Sacchan cut in. "It's the least I can do if Gin-san's letting me stay here temporarily… Just until I can find my own place. How much-?"

Gintoki lifted his palm to stop her. "No, no… Leave it to me to deal with granny."

"It's okay, Gin-san…"

"I can't-"

"How soon can you give me the money?" Otose nodded at Sacchan.

Before he could say anything else, Kagura ran inside and hugged him. "Kagura! Where've you been?" He and Shinpachi asked at the same time.

"Gin-chan! The Shinsengumi bastards are looking for you," she grinned at him.

"Fuck! What do those morons want this time?"

"Sougo said they need your go signal and you should clear up the plan."

Gintoki drew a blank but stood up. He was going to give Okita a good beating, chatting up Kagura so early in the morning.

He couldn't find Kondo, Hijikata, Sougo or even Yamazaki anywhere. He learned from headquarters that they received a tip a few minutes ago and they all went to investigate. It was something big, concerning the Amanto and the Shogun also decided to go ice-skating that day, which meant they had a lot of things on their hands.

By accident, he ran into Madao. The man was too happy to see him, saying the last few months have been even more difficult for him. His ex-wife, he suspected, was moving on with someone else. Plus, his own debts have increased.

"The world must hate us," Gintoki muttered, thinking of his own situation. "Let's have a drink. Damn, I could really use one."

"Sure, pal…"

They decided on the cabaret club but he suddenly remembered Otae would be there. He didn't want to be under her scrutiny right now. They passed by the Kunoichi Café where Sacchan used to moonlight. Surely she would resume work without much trouble.

"Gintoki-san! Over here!" It was Kyoshiro, Kabuki district's number one host. He led them inside for a drink as a sort of welcome back for Gintoki. "I had some trouble over here while the Yorozuya was away," he said. "Luckily, there's still some help to find around here. How was your quest, Gintoki-san?"

"I found her," he told the host.

Kyoshiro offered them a toast. "I am glad that things have worked out for you. Drink up for now. It's on the house."

Gintoki left the place and parted ways with Hasegawa a few hours later, when it was beginning to get crowded. Kyoshiro and his fellow hosts bid him farewell and asked him to return with his "lady love" soon. Gintoki almost threw up the liquor… Tsukuyo was best kept away from any kind of place with alcohol.

He dropped by Otose's snack house, just to get another drink before he had to return and deal with seeing Sacchan at his place. She still unsettled him and who knows what kinds of feelings would creep up to him again once he sees her. It didn't help that he was slightly drunk already.

"Gin-san?" She was at granny's bar, serving some drinks.

"What are you doing here?" He certainly did not expect that she would be inside this place.

"I work here," she said, avoiding his eyes.

He made a face. "Why? The pay sucks and granny can be a slave-driver-"

"Bad-mouthing me again, eh Gintoki?" Otose stepped out from the back door. "At least I give payment where it's due."

"Aw shucks, granny, give me a few days…"

She sighed, "You're hopeless. I keep wondering why you have women falling at your feet despite your blatant irresponsibility."

Gintoki couldn't help it, he smirked. "Just let me have a drink." He looked to Sacchan and noticed she was blushing.

"I'll get you some," she said before fetching a glass and a bottle at the corner for him.

"She's agreed to work here to pay off your rent, you know." Otose revealed to him, her face impassive. "Why is she here, Gintoki?"

"I said I'd pay. Let her choose her own workplace, granny. She's not that bad. She can return to that kunoichi place-"

"She can't."

"Now you're being overbearing-"

"It's not that. She has no choice."

"What do you mean? Are you threatening her or something? You don't have to… She's not at fault-"

"Dumbass!" She snapped. "What do you think I am, a thug? I meant that this is the only place she can work at… and Gengai's agreed through Tama to let her work there part time."

"Better if you spit it out, I don't get it, really."

"She can't find work elsewhere, Gintoki. She's tried." Otose's lip twisted as she fixed her stern gaze on him. "You know she has a bad reputation around here, with the Tsukuyo business and all…"

"Yes, and it's worsening since she can't even prepare drinks. What a useless loser!" A tough voice rose from behind him.

"Catherine-sama and Otose-sama are right. It's charitable to let her work with us here, Gintoki-sama. Sacchan-sama is hopeless otherwise."

Catherine clucked her tongue. "People are already whispering about her being here. What's your girlfriend gonna think, huh?"

"Oi Gintoki, did you consider anything before bringing her here? Or are you up to something?"

"Gintoki-sama's gone to visit the police. Surely he knows what he's doing."

"No way I'm gonna let Otose-san and this bar get a bad reputation while we babysit some crazy bitch from stalker planet."

The three of them looked at him expectantly.

"You," he gave his most menacing glare to the half-cat freak as he pointed his finger at her face. "This place has lost all shreds of its reputation to be tarnished 'cause of you so you have no goddamn right to speak as if you're some angel of the heavens. Your hairy ears disprove that and I bet even your ass is covered in hairs."

"Oi!"

"You," he nodded at Tama. "Seems like you've lost your touch with compassion, humanity and such. Turning back into that useless junk that you're made of?"

"Gintoki-sama…"

"And you!" He was nose to nose with Otose, and she wasn't backing down. "I'll pay the rent soon, no worries granny," he said, laughing nervously and scratching his head.

Sacchan approached them with a platter of sandwiches and rice rolls. "Eat before you head home, Gin-san. You can have the room tonight… I've tried the couch, it's really comfortable."

"Stay in the room." He frowned and took a bite from a sweet roll, "I… I won't be staying home for a while." This was the right thing to do, he convinced himself.

"Oh, you have a job to attend to?"

"No…" He could feel everyone watching him. To calm his nerves, he downed the entire bottle of alcohol in front of them. Then, he stood and walked to the door, forcing himself to keep looking forward. "I'm heading to Yoshiwara."

- THE END -

Author's end note: THE END. Thanks for your reviews! =) I loved writing this story with you guys. Maybe I'll come back for it someday to fix some chapters. Still, I'm glad I was able to finish a multi-chaptered fic, finally! As for Part 2, I have a title and outline for ¾ of the story… it's just waiting to be written. Sorry, I cannot promise fast updates since I was… promoted. This means, more traveling ahihihi! I just hope more GinSachi fans will write and post fanfics. Show yourselves! =P To damnheart. o3, no Bansai here but I assure you he will be in the sequel, hanging around. Yeah, Gin and Sacchan's relationship makes things even more complicated. It's definitely different now. To Rylolli, thanks again! Last chapter was definitely a headache to write. In my first draft, Gintoki was acting VERY differently. To an. co. xx, yup, Tsukuyo's in Yoshiwara. She missed everyone there, especially Hinowa, Seita and the Hyakka girls. To Marquise de Nile, Gin, I guess, is confused and repentant… You're right, things will become complicated. XD