It was a rather dull and eventless day. The sky was pale and offered no sign of sunshine. The air was brisk with an autumn wind and the city was dejected to leisure indoors. Even the Shinsengumi's Demon Vice Commander had spent the morning on menial cleaning duty. At present the Vice Commander stood in the Shinsengumi yard before the clothes line . . . as he had been for the last hour. There was nothing that stuck out about the clothes line that would make anyone else understand why Hijikata had stood watching it for over an hour. But if anyone had cared to really take a look, they would find that among the towels and cloths that hung from the line was a small handkerchief, delicately fluttering in the wind.
"Hmm— it didn't come off," Hijikata muttered in his signature husky tone.
Just the day before, Hijikata had returned home with Otae's handkerchief in hand and realized that the mayonnaise had stained the handkerchief. Try as he did, the stain wouldn't come off. It remained as a yellowing mark on the plain white fabric. Even a consultation with the Shinsengumi resident clean freak, Kumanaku Seizou, yielded nothing except a lecture on the importance of maintaining good hygiene. So Hijikata decided that if he couldn't return the current handkerchief, the least he could do was replace it with a new one. But what Hijikata took to be a simple task turned into something more challenging than battling a hundred thugs.
"Good day sir," a young sales attendant greeted customers with a bright smile and hands clasped together. In the background light music played throughout the department store and middle aged ladies bustled about with their shopping bags. What stood out was Hijikata in his Shinsengumi uniform, glaring at a selection of brand name handkerchiefs, and a dark burden on his shoulders.
"Hello sir, are you looking to buy something for your girlfriend?"
The young sales attendant made the mistake of approaching Hijikata in his nerve wracked state. You see, Hijikata had never shopped for a girl before and so of course he was nervous. As always though, he came off as threatening and insulted. Hijikata turned, the dark aura spreading out around him, and the cigarette between his teeth being ground to smithereens. Add his killer glare and sharp Yakuza-like, 'Haaanh?' and we have one screaming young sales attendant. Shopping at the department store obviously didn't go so well. So Hijikata took to the small merchant shops of Edo's streets instead. It wasn't long before he saw a charming little store nestled in between a flower shop and a stationery store.
Hijikata entered to find a little shop of trinkets and accessories. In one corner mannequins were dressed in traditional kimonos with sashes draped from the waist to display their intricate patterns. Along the centre were rows of jewelry and silver nuisances while the walls held up splayed out fans with long accent threads hanging to the floor. Hijikata looked around the store and to the back where a small counter was set up, but he didn't see anyone attending to the shop. He was about to leave when he noticed a display of handkerchiefs near the back. Cautiously, he ventured deeper into the store.
It really shouldn't be this difficult. Hijikata thought to himself as he glanced at the sample of handkerchiefs before him. It shouldn't be difficult at all! Hijikata twitched in annoyance as his eyes scanned across what seemed like an ever growing selection of handkerchiefs. But why are there so many? It's just a stupid piece of fabric! The flowing embroidered floral patterns began to flood Hijikata's vision. Hijikata was so absorbed that he didn't notice when an elderly woman suddenly appeared behind him.
"A gift for a lady friend?"
"HaaaAHH?" Hijikata jumped in surprise and then went on to quickly deny everything. "It's for a friend! A mutual acquaintance! No— a favor for a— it's not!"
The old woman smiled and wrinkles stretched across her cheeks and forehead. She was very old, very wise, and could see right through the flustered Hijikata. "Handkerchiefs are so simple, in this day and age only jewelry will get you far," she made to guide Hijikata to the jewelry displays but Hijikata stated,
"It has to be a handkerchief," the old woman glanced at Hijikata. He blushed and stuttered, "F-for the acquaintance—,"
The old woman sighed and remarked, "What a romantic,"
"That's not it! It's to replace an old one! That's why it has to be a handkerchief—,"
"Ahh okay, okay, I get it." Something about the old woman's condescending attitude unnerved Hijikata. Still, he watched as she began setting aside handkerchiefs for him, each one frillier and pinker than the last. "How about these?"
"Do . . . do you have anything that's more simple?"
"Hmm, a more reserved type of girl eh?"
An image of Otae drop kicking Kondo popped up in Hijikata's mind. "Uhh you could say so,"
The old woman smiled knowingly and drew out a handful of white handkerchiefs from the pile. Hijikata analyzed the new choices but found himself still being indecisive and worrying over whether Otae would like the one he chose for her. Not that he really cared. Hijikata scratched the back of his neck. Okay, he really cared. So with Hijikata in such a worried and vulnerable state, who should come walking in to the same store?
"Oii old lady, where do you want these?"
Hijikata froze.
"Ahh Yorozuya! Come in, come in. Just put those boxes in the back," the old woman gestured to the three standing at the store front, each with a box in their arms.
"Mah, what's in these boxes old lady? They're so heavy," the tallest of the three with curly silver hair commented in a lazy voice.
"No they're not Gin-chan, you're just weak," said the smallest of the three, carrying her box in one hand while she picked her own nose with the other hand.
"Let's not complain Gin-san!" remarked the final of the three, distinguished from the other two only by the pair of glasses on his nose. That's right, it was Gintoki, Kagura, and Shinpachi. The three moved further into the store. Hijikata was now completely rigid and trying to make himself as obsolete as possible. But luck was not on Hijikata's side today.
"Eh— ehhhh is that . . . ?" Gintoki was suddenly hovering over Hijikata's shoulder. Then all at once Gintoki's laugh was echoing in Hijikata's ears and Hijikata had to resist the sudden dying urge to unsheathe his sword. "You? What are you doing here?"
The old lady grinned and said, "Buying a gift for a special someone!" Gintoki laughed even louder.
"A gift? A handkerchief?" Gintoki looked at the line of simple handkerchiefs and continued his boisterous laughing. "Who are you buying the handkerchief for, a prisoner? Handkerchiefs have to have patterns! Patterns!"
Hijikata snapped, "What the hell are you talking about? What patterns?"
"Ahh no sense of fashion! Are all of the Shinsengumi like you? Mahh well it can't be helped, here see," and at this Gintoki pulled out his own handkerchief, a square piece of fabric imprinted with strawberries all over it. But Hijikata barely got a reaction out before Kagura was wiping her boogers on the strawberry patterned handkerchief. "AHhhh, Kagura-chan what are you doing?"
"Handkerchiefs are for wiping boogers on, so I wiped mine on it," Kagura said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Gahh!" Gintoki pulled Kagura into a head lock and began knuckling her head. While the two squabbled Shinpachi piped up and asked,
"Who are you buying a handkerchief for Hijikata-san?"
Hijikata blinked, suddenly realizing the delicate nature of his current situation. Shinpachi, being Otae's brother, might be useful to somehow extract information on Otae's preferences. But if he wasn't subtle enough, he might just be discovered and he was pretty sure Shinpachi wouldn't be pleased that the Shinsengumi's Vice Commander was buying a handkerchief for his beloved older sister. So he played it close to the chest.
"A-an acquaintance,"
"Oh, is that so?"
"Ah uhm which . . . which handkerchief would you suggest?" Hijikata asked, straining himself to not come right out and ask what Otae would like.
Shinpachi, after a moment of contemplation, replied, "Well if it's a gift from the heart than it doesn't matter what pattern it is, doesn't it?"
Hijikata blinked in surprise, "Eh?" Hijikata looked back at the selection of handkerchiefs. "Ahh . . . I guess you're right," Shinpachi smiled and turned his attention to trying to break up Gintoki and Kagura's bickering.
"So, have you made your decision yet?" the old woman gestured to the line of handkerchiefs. Hijikata paused and then tentatively lifted a simple white handkerchief, unremarkable but for the intricate yellow tulip embroidered in the corner.
—
"Have a nice day," with a knowing toothless grin, the old woman bowed as Hijikata's figure receded from the store front, his purchase gift wrapped and paid for. The old woman glanced back at the Yorozuya who were somehow still bickering over nonsense. "Yorozuya! Why are those boxes still here, do you want to be paid or not?" Immediately the three snapped into a single file line and carried the boxes to the back. The old woman turned back to look out at the street. She chuckled and said, to no one in particular, "Did you know the yellow tulip represents being 'hopelessly in love'?"
"I don't know what you're talking about old lady. Are you getting senile?" Gintoki called over his shoulder as he hauled another box to the back.
Again, the old woman laughed, "Maybe, maybe,"
—
Edo's red light district was lit up for the night. Streets were filled with the sounds of laughter and shot glasses clinking together. The stars could barely be seen, the sky was clouded with a haze of light pollution. And among the cheers and accommodating calls, a certain guest at a particular cabaret club was being greeted with especially loud squeals of affection.
"Kyahhh! Hijikata-han, it's Hijikata-han! It's not that gorilla today, but Hijikata-han that came! Come sit by us, Hijikata-han!" clamored the cabaret hostesses as they tugged on Hijikata's sleeves in all directions.
"Hijikata-san, your selection?" asked the server standing to the side. Hijikata grumbled in exasperation under his breath.
Ice settled in a glass and a sharp ring was muffled by the clamor of the club. Hijikata sat next to Otae, his arms crossed and a newly lit cigarette at the corner of his mouth. Neither said a thing to the other. Hijikata assumed Otae would start the conversation by commenting on something or another about drama schedules, but she was uncharacteristically quiet. Unbeknownst to Hijikata, Otae was unable to bring herself to say anything since she kept remembering their exchange the other day. Wiping Hijikata's collar, their eye contact, and the close proximity; it was enough to make Otae avert her eyes downward and blush in embarrassment. They continued in this manner until Hijikata summed up the courage and took the initiative.
"Here," Hijikata handed Otae a palm sized wrapped package. She accepted the small gift with both hands and blinked as she stared at the soft pastel paper wrapping.
"What is it?"
"The mayonnaise wouldn't wash off the other one, so I got you a new one." as Hijikata spoke, Otae peeled back the wrapping to reveal a neatly folded handkerchief. Her fingers smoothed over the embroidery detail. For a long time she didn't say anything. Hijikata glanced at her, afraid that the handkerchief wasn't to her liking. "You don't have to use it—,"
"No . . ." Otae interrupted, "I'll use it. Thank you very much Hijikata-san. I love it," she smiled at Hijikata. His cheeks reddened and he looked away.
"Well I figured you'd need it to wipe your tears on Monday nights," Hijikata said, off offhandedly.
Otae smiled lightly and replied, "Don't you mean Thursday nights Hijikata-san? Everyone knows 'Lie to Me' got moved from its Monday night time slot,"
"Ah, is that right?"
And they talked into the late hours of the night, about the Sunday prime time line up and whatever else came to mind.
Sorry for the long wait! I originally had this chapter ready to go but it would have led to the end of this fanfiction and I'm not ready to end it yet. So I rewrote it.
Oh and my favorite character is . . . Katsura! Favorite pairing is Okikagu :)