CHAPTER 5 - When Someone Tells You to Break a Leg, They Actually Hate You
Gintoki slept like a log.
He barely dragged his fatigued body back to his resting chambers after the hellish practice Aya had put him through. Not only did his body suffer under their merciless instruction, but his mind as well. His nerves were frayed thin from Aya's vexed mood. Every step he'd made needed correction, every swing repetition, every turn modification.
They've also practiced the routine outdoors, under the moonlight on the sunken stage. It reflected the moon like a mirror, only distorting it when Gintoki's steps made ripples in the still water. Contrary to what he believed, Gintoki didn't slip nor fall and make an utter fool of himself. He actually liked how the stage incorporated water and started splashing it around with his wooden sword to see what kind of effect it would have in the bluish-silver wonderland of the night. The water sprayed chaotically around him and he, in his frolicking, didn't notice Aya who had been standing close to him the entire time. Sopping wet. To say that their gaze was murderous would've been an understatement.
He made a promise to himself not to stand in Aya's way when the moon is hanging in the sky. And then he'd realized that they will spend the next evening together preparing for the performance.
That's the future me's problem.
Gintoki took the quickest shower of his life and almost filed down his teeth from brushing them so fast. He threw himself on the soft mattress, his head sinking into the pillow of the king-sized bed. His eyes fluttered shut. Sleep engulfed him, enveloping him in the dark void, and he dreamed no dreams of blood and screams.
No tears and empty eyes.
Just nothingness.
He woke up with a start to the doors of his chambers banging open.
"Gin-san! We're late!" Shinpachi barged into the room, and opened the heavy curtains, bathing the room in the late-afternoon sunlight. "We had to be down in the preparation hall an hour ago!" His voice rebounded across the room and Gintoki pulled a pillow over his head to drown out the noise.
"It's still daytime, right?" Gintoki's sleepy mumble came from a pile of pillows and covers that swallowed him whole. "Wake me up when the sun sets." His light breathing filled the room as he fell asleep again.
Shinpachi looked ready to burst a few blood vessels. His footsteps menacingly approached the bed, and he flipped the covers off the sleeping Gintoki. "Aya-san is waiting for you, Gin-san! We were all getting ready for today", he added, "so please, get up."
Gintoki lay motionless in bed for a few moments before woefully groaning and lifting himself out of the bed, his hair sticking in all directions. He yawned and blinked the sleep out of his eyes. "I'm up. I'll be out in a few."
Shinpachi left the room, leaving Gintoki to put on his black shirt and pants and wrap himself into his signature white yukata. What do they even have to prepare for? He wasn't aware of them doing anything besides… convincing him to do his best for the dance. And scouting what the food was like with the whole Yato family in tow.
Gintoki sighed, collecting all his mental and physical strength before pushing the doors open. "Let's go, Patsuan", he told Shinpachi who was leaning on the wall across with the thick manual he wrote in his hands.
They started racing through the empty castle halls. Gintoki could hear the sounds of hustle and bustle coming from the various terraces they passed, similar to the construction noise that accompanied yesterday's stage-building. The light breeze that tousled his hair carried the smell of blossoms, as well as fragrant flowers. It contrasted the hurried and panicked atmosphere everything around him had, and almost lulled him into a relaxed mood.
Almost.
"The performances start in two hours, but the guests will be arriving in one for the ceremony bit. Since you're last, Gin-san, you'll be up in exactly…", he checked a pocket watch Gintoki had never seen before, "…three hours and three minutes." Shinpachi debriefed him. Gintoki was surprised; he felt like a big shot with his assistant and off to an important meeting.
"Didn't know you were into antiques", Gintoki said, his curiosity piqued.
Shinpachi paused for a moment before glancing at the plain iron watch in his hand. "I wasn't, after what happened with my glasses, but Aya-san gifted this to me. I couldn't really say no." He smiled, probably remembering the moment, and continued explaining what he'd have to do once on the stage after putting the watch away.
They exited the castle halls and stepped into a vast courtyard, bathed in the light of the sinking sun, its stone tiles circling the rocky fountain piece. Shinpachi had told him that it would be the place where guests would gather after passing the bridge and before being ushered towards the main stage on water. The stony bridge leading to the courtyard was decorated with coral chrysanthemum flowers and apricot-colored floating lanterns. However, not only did they float on water, but in the air as well, as if some invisible hand held them in place.
"Princess Soyo wishes to honor those who died in the war by releasing the lanterns in water before the performances", Shinpachi explained. "Apparently, the envoy also wanted to do something; that's why they float in the air – it's their technology. They'll be guided down to water from wherever you light up the lantern."
Gintoki watched busy hands fixing up aromal flowers coiled around the wooden bridge railings, perfecting what looked pretty perfect to him already. Ren, huh? He thought about yesterday evening and how much fun he had with a person he knew for barely an hour. I really lowered my guard down, even after all that mayo freak had said. Thinking back on it now, the guy who stalked him for a week was someone who worked for Ren. Why didn't he grab his perfect silky hair and throw some punches?
Because Ren's face isn't punchable. And because I don't want to cause trouble for those police dogs. Ha.
While the bridge was being decorated with chrysanthemum flowers and lanterns, the courtyard was home to crowds of servers rushing around with platters of food in their hands. The appetizing smells rose in the April air and swirled around the banquet tables. The cacophony of clinking chopsticks, silverware and plates was eclipsed by a loud group of three that besieged one buffet table.
"Oi! You call this a full plate, huh?" Kagura huffed in anger, her mouth stuffed and her belly straining to stay in her sweatpants. "Even Gin-chan gives me bigger portions!"
"Is that bastard starving you, Kagura!? I should kill ARGH – " Umibouzu started choking on the food in his mouth.
He was saved by a generous kick to his back. "Now, now, I can't have you dying from choking on food." Kamui put his leg down on top of him and turned to the petrified server. "Ten more, please."
The Yato family surrounded the buffet table that the server brought food to like a pack of hyenas that haven't tasted meat in weeks. His nervous eyes darted from one to another, before throwing the remaining platters of food in the air. "I'm sorry! I quit!" He ran away in tears, almost knocking the whole thing over.
How many people that I know will show up today?
Gintoki smacked them all on their heads, in the same fashion Shouyo had done to him, Katsura and Takasugi when they were children. "And here I thought you were actually doing something useful." Though he'd said that, Gintoki also felt like a part of that pack of hyenas. He could kill for a breakfast. Or lunch.
"Samurai-san, good luck today. I still haven't had a satisfying fight with you, so I hope you make it out alive today." Kamui, as always, smiled politely but still managed to look smug with his whole body stuck in the ground.
Umibouzu nodded, his toupee askew on his head. "Hm. I have a ship prepared to evacuate all three of you. The kids and the dog, not you", he glared at Gintoki. "Bear the consequences of your actions."
Gintoki took a stick of fried chicken from the table and bit into it, its crispiness deliciously resounding in the courtyard, slowly and deliberately while looking down at the two. "No."
Kamui and Umibouzu both erupted from the ground and jumped him, trying to wrestle the piece of chicken from him. He got out of their way just in time for them to land next to an unsuspecting server carrying a platter of grilled squid.
Shinpachi held his forehead in frustration. "Gin-san, let's go. Our tent is over there."
"Hey, wait for me!" Kagura decided that food was her second priority. For now. She dug herself out and followed after them.
Gintoki looked around as the Yorozuya trio ignored the cries for help of the Yato-surrounded server and moved towards their destination. "Where's the white furball?"
They went up the wooden stairs and through a majestic gate. The path after the courtyard split into two; the left one was a cobblestoned path that led downwards to the stage and the right one wound through a field of peach tree blossoms. After taking the right garden pathway, Gintoki soon found his answer lying in front of a white tent. Sadaharu's eyes opened after sensing their scent and he jumped up and bounced towards them.
"Sadaharu!" Kagura caught his fluffy body mid-air and twirled him around. "Gin-chan, Sadaharu and I set up this whole thing. What do you think?"
When Shinpachi mentioned a tent, Gintoki's mind had conjured up a picture of a campsite with a blue plastic tent near a crackling fire. Not an almost castle-looking textile construction that towered over other tents. He tousled both Kagura's hair and Sadaharu's fur. "Mn. Great job. We look better than everyone else."
He pushed aside the tent opening and stepped inside. Unlike the barren outside, the inside of the tent was warm and cozy. It almost felt like he'd stepped into someone's house. There was a dark-wood vanity table with an adorned mirror, a couple of couches around a small coffee table and various antique chests strewn around the room - all lit up by the light of burning candles. The flame glistened on the metal of Aya's armor, which was neatly put away in a corner, its owner seated on one of the couches.
"Aya", Gintoki greeted them simply.
Aya rose up from their seat and slowly made their way towards the Yorozuya, nervously gripping at their clothes. "Here you are", they smiled sheepishly, not really looking up at Gintoki. "Were you able to sleep without difficulty?"
Gintoki nodded, still unsure of how to approach Aya from last night. He could, however, notice that their entire demeanor had changed, and he relaxed a little. "What about you? When did you get here?"
"We arrived around noon", Aya said, proudly looking at Shinpachi, Kagura and Sadaharu. "You've truly been helpful to me. I am forever grateful." While stiffly, Aya had taken a step forward and bowed their head. Gintoki resisted the urge to ruffle their hair in the same manner as he would've done to Kagura or Shinpachi. He simply cleared his throat and waited for Aya to continue. "Gintoki, as for last night, I…"
They glanced toward the rest of the Yorozuya, before taking a deep breath. "I apologize. It is oftentimes hard for me to keep my composure once the sun sets. Once more, I am sorry." They bowed to Gintoki this time. Their voice was the quietest and saddest he'd heard so far. His heart clenched with anguish.
Gintoki was at a loss. Sure, yesterday was hell, but he could ascribe that to Aya being nervous or on edge, nothing personal. Besides, he wasn't the type of guy who held long grudges. But before he could say anything else, his stomach grumbled so loudly he almost thought it was Kagura's. "Uh… It's fine. Really."
"Magnificent!" Aya got up, their voice as light as a feather, not a trace of past worry on their face. Only their golden eyes reflecting the playful flame of the candles. "Kagura-chan, could I implore you to bring a meal for Gintoki to eat?" Kagura and Sadaharu exited the tent, probably excited to eat once again. "Shinpachi-kun, could you examine the position of the cameras once more? And confirm the rotation schedule with the filming director." Shinpachi nodded and before Gintoki blinked, he was already gone.
"What did you do to them?" he asked, his voice quivering. Oi, oi, is this the power of money? Then again, here he was, doing something he avoided for a large part of his life for that same money.
He turned towards Aya, wanting to talk more, but they had other plans. Their hands gripped him with inhuman strength and pushed him further into the tent and beyond the flowing curtains. "This is your task." In front of him was a steaming bath filled with sakura and plum petals, the water reflecting the candlelight above it. The fragrance of the blossoms was delightful and Gintoki had nothing against relaxing in the circular wooden tub.
Aya held a coarse towel in their hand.
Gintoki reached for it and waited.
And waited.
"Um, I'll need that. Right?"
"Oh, right, sorry", Aya said, frowning as if reminded of something, and handed over the cloth. "Please scrub as hard as you can. Your face as well."
"Are you trying to say something!?" Gintoki was offended. He may be lazy at times, but he cared about his personal hygiene very much.
Aya chuckled and stepped out behind the curtains. "It is for the purpose of preparing your skin for the makeup." Their steps had grown distant as they walked around the room, opening heavy chests with a hefty creak. He could hear the limp in their step. "Once you finish, I shall have to tailor the clothes to your physique", Aya's voice was muffled as it traveled from another room.
Gintoki folded his clothes on top of a small table and sunk himself in the hot waters. He shuddered in bliss as it washed over his skin, the pink petals sticking to his arms and palms when he lifted them above the surface. The steam warmed his face and his eyes fluttered shut, the swaying of the water growing still as he lay his head back. "Do you even have enough fabric? If you didn't notice, I'm way bigger than you."
"I do." Gintoki could hear the chuckle in their voice. "Are you done?"
"Uh, just a minute!"
After a while, the splashing of water and Gintoki's scrubbing were the only sounds in the tent, and he wondered if he was alone before a loud thud proved him wrong. He stilled, the sloshing in the tub coming to a stop. "Is everything okay?" When he heard no response, he grabbed a towel hanging by the tub to dry himself off and wrapped himself in a robe. He swept his wet hair from his forehead and stepped outside.
Aya was staring at the contents of a cylindrical box, whose white light spilled in the room, as if bewitched. Their shaking fingers reached inside to glide across the surface of a silver sword, almost caressing it. Calling it a sword might've been inaccurate – even from a distance, Gintoki noticed that it not only had no hilt, but the blade wasn't sharp, much like his bokuto. However, its shine would dull any sword blade in its presence; as Gintoki got closer and closer, he could see swirls of silvery dust coil on its surface, as if millions of stars and galaxies were trapped inside. But he was not entranced; on the contrary, while its beauty might've stunned others, to him it looked like an old Jump that held his favorite manga chapter, and he just didn't have the heart to get rid of it.
Something mundane that was always by his side.
"This looks too pricey to be here", he commented nonchalantly and that startled Aya out of their daze. "What's that?"
Aya gently lifted the blade out of its casing with both hands. They turned towards Gintoki and held out the blade. "This is the sword you shall perform with", said Aya, their gaze devotedly glued to its luster. "The one I used before was a mere replica, a shadow of its greatness."
"Cool." Gintoki grabbed the blade and pulled, but Aya's hands still held onto it. "Why didn't you use it before?"
"It's… " Aya finally let go, their hands dangling at their sides as if they lost something important, "…precious. I couldn't risk damaging it nor losing it."
"And you trust me?"
Aya's honey eyes parted from the silver sword and stared into Gintoki's maroon ones. "You're the only one I would ever entrust it to." There it is again. Whenever these moments occurred, Gintoki felt like he was missing a huge piece of some convoluted puzzle; like when he saw them perform the dance for the first time. They scratched his brain and rustled the dried-up branches of his deepest memories.
"Is it fragile?" Gintoki flexed his fist around the pale blade. The fine dust clusters moved not only along the edge but danced above it as well, floating over his fingers.
Aya moved to the vanity table and started organizing the contents laid out on it. "No. I could not imagine something fracturing it", they said with a smirk. "On the contrary, you could smash diamonds into fine particles with it." They beckoned for Gintoki to sit down in front of the mirror.
"And we're using this invincible weapon for… a dance?"
"That is correct. Now please lift your head up, Gintoki."
It's finally here. Gintoki closed his eyes, waiting for the bristles of a makeup brush to touch his skin like it did at the Kamakko Club. Nothing of the sort was happening. Instead of the sound of makeup containers being opened and brushes stroking the surfaces, he heard clicking and Aya's straining huff as they picked up something heavy from the ground.
Why does this sound strangely familiar?
In the end, Gintoki couldn't fight his curiosity any longer and he opened his eyes.
To find himself staring at the end of the pipe of a bazooka.
Gintoki blinked again.
"Um, Aya-san? What's the meaning of this? Did I really piss you off yesterday? I'm sorry, okay? I'll buy you a parfait – no, I'll take you to the pachinko – no, wait, that's not it – "
Aya's finger closed around the trigger.
"Wait, wait, wait, WAIT – "
Bam.
There was no sound nor heat.
Gintoki only saw white. Well, that was painless. As his eyelids fluttered, they dispelled the blinding flash from his eyes. His hand reached up to his chest and felt a beating heart. He looked up to Aya, his expression contorted in confusion. "You mind telling me what you did?"
They removed the smoking weapon from his face and put it back on the ground. "It is the most-advanced Imperial technology for safe and efficient makeup application."
"And you couldn't mention this earlier!?"
Aya suppressed a chuckle and moved behind him, both hands gently touching his shoulders. "It was a surprise. Now please, look forward into the mirror."
Gintoki didn't even have the strength, nor the nerves left to question anything further and complied with Aya's request. He saw Aya's image staring at him in marvel, and then looked at his reflection in the mirror. The grip on his shoulders got stronger as he gazed and gazed and… "Am I supposed to see something, or?"
"What do you mean?" Aya frowned, puzzled.
"Well, looks like nothing changed. Are you sure that thing is working? There was smoke coming out of it, you know." Gintoki couldn't for the life of him tell what was different from before. Maybe his hair got a bit whiter from all the stress he'd gone through minutes ago. He tussled his wet strands with his robe sleeves. Ugh, I'll catch a cold at this point.
Aya removed his hands from his head and inspected his face. "No. It assuredly worked. However, you cannot see the difference…" They pondered for a moment before continuing. "No matter. That was only the first step. Five more until completion."
"Five?" And here Gintoki thought three hours of preparation were over the top.
"Hair, clothes, more makeup, jewelry and finishing touches. All to make you the most revered performer this galaxy had ever seen. Oh, this shall be wonderful", Aya clasped their hands in excitement. For all it was worth, at least they were having fun.
Gintoki had to admit that it wasn't too bad for him, either.
The smell of meat reminded Gintoki of how hungry he was.
It felt like an eternity had passed since Aya shoved a bazooka (that didn't even do its job) in his face. Aya was currently on the last step – finishing touches. During the whole process, their fingers had worked tirelessly to make him presentable for the dance.
Starting from styling his hair; it has never looked as shiny and in place as today. Each lock of his unruly hair looked like it was put there on purpose, and every time he turned his head, they bounced like silver feathers and caught the light of the flickering candles. The clothes Aya had designed for him turned out to be almost completely different from what they wore; close-fitting, transparent white fabric encircled his sturdy neck and continued down his round shoulders into open loose sleeves that floated like clouds around him. The trousers were practically non-existent; instead of Aya's long baggy ones, he wore glorified, pearly matte shorts. The back and sides of his legs were covered in airy fabric falling from his waist down to the floor, with his muscular legs encased in skintight, thigh-high cloth, peeking in front.
After that, Aya had sprayed a luminescent powder over his cheeks, nose, arms, and hands, as well as his torso and feet. The particles captured light and emitted a celestial glow of silver and gold.
His chest and chiseled stomach were bare, save for the sterling delicate chains that fell over them, connecting his neck across his abs with the chain curling around his waist. Tiny jewels hung on the chains and peppered his skin resembling silvery snowflakes. Similar ones spilled over his hands and fingers and webbed over his legs down to his toes. Moonstone bracelets attached the ends of his rippling sleeves to his wrists. Since Gintoki's ears weren't pierced, metal pieces with hanging crystals adorned his earlobes. Finally, Aya had put a metal choker with an embedded brilliant argent gemstone, akin to a full moon, around his neck and moved onto his hair. They lowered a circlet on Gintoki's head and covered it with his hair except for the front area, so that the little diamond raindrop hanging from it was visible, the light refracting inside illuminating his forehead in pale blue hues. Aya had clipped glistening jewels on his locks, akin to icy falling stars, and they danced along with his head movement.
At long last, -
"Too long! This description is way too long!"
Aya coughed in vexation. "It did take almost two hours, did it not?"
"I'm sorry", Gintoki immediately apologized. "Seriously, you're way too talented. One person has a limit of only three, you know? You have to share." He stared at his dressed-up image in the mirror. Sure, that's still me. Only an upgraded version. A premium Gintoki. "Just one thing – why is everything so itchy? Is it this glitter you sprayed all over me? I can remove it all in the shower later, right?"
Aya pointedly avoided his eyes and moved to clean up everything from the table that they'd used. "Uh-huh."
"I won't live with it for the next three months, right?"
"Oh, yup."
At least it's easy to see when you lie. Gintoki smiled and grabbed the can of glitter. "Oi, Aya", he called out. When they turned, he blasted the bottle all over them. He was careful in avoiding their face, however.
Gintoki counted on the fact that since they were done with the clothes and makeup, Aya couldn't retaliate. And he was right, judging by the way Aya had just sighed, as if dealing with a small child. "Ha. You're the same as..." The words spilled out of their mouth and Aya looked uncomfortable, as if they regretted it.
Although Gintoki was usually not the one to pry (so noticeably), he couldn't help but ask. "The same as who?"
Aya hesitated for a few moments, looking down from where they were leaning on the vanity table, the shadows the candlelight formed dancing across their skin, before answering. "My little brother. Ayato."
Gintoki remembered the evening under a broken streetlight, his body enveloped in a gentle mist, talking to a certain dapper police officer. I found out they do have family somewhere, but I don't know the details, he said. Gintoki wondered why Aya said their name with a tinge of melancholy. He decided not to pry further and got up to feel how this construction on him behaved in space.
So far so good. He picked up the silver blade and swung it a few times. Nothing came flying from him. He tried out the first few steps of the choreography. Everything held together. Good –
"He's living with his family. Settled down, with children of his own. Happy. It's just, he's – " Aya's voice quivered. "He's – "
Gintoki put down the blade and walked up to Aya, his eyes searching for theirs. He lifted a hand and softly patted their velvety curls. Aya had at last looked up and returned his gaze, their eyes swimming in molten gold, tears threatening to spill over.
"He's so far away from me."
A teardrop fell down their cheek.
"And I miss him dearly."
More followed, until Gintoki couldn't see them anymore because Aya had hugged him. He was stunned, his hands frozen in midair. He knew Aya was a person full of emotions; no one could be as invested in fictional drama characters as them. But they were never this expressive. He thought of the person he met three weeks ago and couldn't find them in the one that stood before him. He gently returned the hug and patted their back.
"Your parents were real creative. Aya and Ayato."
Aya stilled, their sniffles stopping. "Truly", they said, their voice heavy with tears started to lighten up. "They were." Aya had by now delved into full-blown laughter.
Gintoki stepped back, smiling, proud of his consoling skills. And he didn't even have to bribe them with premium meat, like he'd done with Kagura. Speaking of, his starved stomach grumbled in delight as he felt a delicious aroma find its way into the tent, followed by quarrelsome voices.
He almost forgot the errand Kagura and Sadaharu were sent on.
"Finally!" He stomped towards the entrance and flipped open the heavy fabric. "Did you raise the chickens yourself!?"
He stepped outside and almost crashed into the person standing in front of him. His lightning-fast reflexes took over. He sidestepped, but his foot caught on theirs and he stumbled backwards towards the cobblestones. Aya will kill me.
Before he cracked his head on the stone and saved Aya the work, however, a pair of sturdy arms reached out and wrapped around him. The flowy sleeves and skirt of his outfit billowed around him as his fall was stopped. His arched back would've usually protested in pain, but he's been feeling more flexible than ever after that bazooka shot. He gripped the shoulder of his savior, jewels on his hand clinking against one another, to support himself so that he could stand up, but the other party didn't budge – they made no effort to raise him from the tango position they'd found themselves in.
And Gintoki realized why.
Hijikata was peering down at his face, unmoving. The moonlight illuminated his dazed expression and emphasized the intricate pattern of his metallic irises. Gintoki himself felt a bit astounded, out of breath, losing himself in those burning eyes. The arms around him tightened, fingers brushing over his bare lower back and Gintoki shivered –
"Gin-san?"
Gintoki shot up, almost shoving Hijikata down in the process. He turned around to see Shinpachi, Kagura and Sadaharu, the first two staring at him with weird expressions, while Sadaharu darted towards him and lay down next to him, nuzzling his fluffy head against his leg. He bent down to scratch his ear. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's just… You look kinda different, Gin-chan", Kagura said, her voice insecure.
"The less people recognize me, the better, right?" He walked up to them and ruffled their hair. His eyes were full of warmth when he looked down at them; he thought he was the one doing all the work, but maybe they've gotten the short end of the stick. "You've done really well today. Thank you." He tried not to show it, but his voice betrayed his feelings of pride. "I'll do my best as well."
"Um."
"Sure."
These brats, acting all cool. Their ears were tinted in a deep shade of red, but they beamed up at him. The peaceful moment was broken by a rustle of fabric behind him, and he turned back. Aya stepped out of the tent in a hurry, almost knocking over the frozen Hijikata standing there. "I must depart. There is an emergency I must attend to. As a precaution, Gintoki, I shall wish you good luck now."
"Aya-chan, on Earth you tell people to break a leg if you want them to do well", Kagura helpfully chimed in, holding onto Gintoki's hand.
"Oh. Well then, I wish for you to break your leg most spectacularly", Aya said, confused but obviously trying to respect Earth's customs.
"Hey, when you say it like that, I really feel like I will."
Aya grinned, but the smile was short-lived. They kept glancing at the gadget on their wrist, frowning as if they didn't want to leave, but worried all the same. "I cannot wait until I see you on stage", they smiled encouragingly at Gintoki and with those words disappeared into the shadowy garden.
Gintoki stared at the spot where the blossoms swallowed their figure. He wasn't worried. Just a bit uneasy. It didn't look like a simple matter by the way Aya had behaved. And while curious, he had his own work to do, so he pushed those thoughts out of his mind.
Hijikata coughed to get Gintoki's attention. "This is for you", he said, dusting off a package and holding it out for him. "Since it seemed a bit suspicious, I decided to deliver it… myself."
Gintoki's cheeks reddened when he remembered the way he lost his balance before; he must've knocked the package out of his hands. "Thanks." He took the box from him, his fingers lightly brushing against Hijikata's. Gintoki removed his hand as if the touch burned. And in a way, it had.
They stood around for a moment, both waiting for… something.
Until giggles coming from behind reminded them that they weren't alone. "I'll take this inside, Gin-san", Shinpachi said as he took the box, trying to suppress a smile.
"Hurry up or this won't be waiting for you, muahaha!" Kagura threatened, smirking, as she passed him with a plate of steaming rice and steak on it. Both she and Shinpachi had looks on their faces like they shared a secret and Gintoki felt left out of the loop. Sadaharu, of course, followed the smell of the meat.
The orange light spilled from the tent, briefly covering Hijikata in shadows, before the curtain closed once again. Silence, save for the soft chirping of crickets, blanketed the pair bathed in the blue hues of moonlight. A small lotus-filled pond gurgled with streaming water and fireflies twinkled above it as they danced through the air. Hijikata, previously avoiding his eyes, now openly stared at him. Gintoki shifted underneath his gaze; it reminded him of the night Hijikata cornered him into a wall. His expression was stony, but his eyes fiery. And that fire ignited something in him, too.
Hijikata stepped towards him, until they were inches apart. Their eyes weren't level, since Gintoki was barefoot, and he was looking up at him through his silver eyelashes. The exposed parts of his body felt Hijikata's body heat caress his skin and Gintoki felt like it was magnetized; though was it pulling him towards Hijikata or away, he couldn't tell. His heart raced and he worried if Hijikata could hear the loud thumping, his blood traveling to his face and neck.
Why am I so nervous?
Gintoki felt like they would clash swords any second. Anticipation was killing him, his breath quickening when Hijikata finally decided to break the stalemate. He lowered his head to Gintoki's side, their cheeks nearly touching, and reached up with his fingers to inspect the gems sprinkled in his hair.
"It's pretty", Hijikata whispered breathlessly, tickling his ear with the words. And something deep inside.
It made his head spin.
Gintoki couldn't take any more of… whatever this was. His fingers hesitantly landed on Hijikata's neck and travelled upwards along his feverish skin before they tangled in his straight black hair, moving his head away from his ear, until they stared at each other. Gintoki crossed the few inches that separated them, his body pressing into Hijikata's, the thin chains digging into his stomach. He felt their hearts beating in tandem, frantically, as Hijikata's arms wrapped around his waist, pushing him against his body even closer. Hijikata dipped his head, his lips open, gazing downwards at Gintoki's. Their breaths intermingled, and Gintoki felt the scent of nicotine and pine trees overpower his senses.
They shared one last look, heavy with unsaid words, as their lips –
"Vice-Commander, come in."
The radio on Hijikata's shoulder crackled like a whip and Gintoki pushed Hijikata away so hard he ended up on the ground. They were both panting in disbelief as Hijikata's hand slowly crept up to the radio. "This is Hijikata." His voice was strained.
Whatever else was said, Gintoki drowned it out. Eh? Eeh? EEEH? He wanted to pull his hair out. What just almost happened? He refused to even dwell on it. Sure, he didn't get any sort of action in a while since he was preoccupied with different things, but with this mayo-freak? Him of all people? They were more likely to duel anytime they crossed paths, rather than kiss –
"I have to go." Hijikata was up on his feet and nearly out of sight before he stopped. "Good luck", he breathed, still turned away from him, shoulders stiff as a boulder. He then stormed off into the night, almost running away.
I want to run away too!
He couldn't live with this embarrassment. How will he face that bastard from now on? He really didn't know what and how this situation came to be. It just happened so quickly.
He was still in disbelief as he sat inside the tent in front of the package Shinpachi had graciously laid out for him. Both he and Kagura exited the tent some moments ago, smiling ear to ear and whispering among themselves. Gintoki was not one bit curious as to what they were grinning about and pointedly ignored them. Shinpachi instructed him about the camerawork one last time, and they left to join Kagura's family before Gintoki's performance started.
He picked up the box and lowered it into his lap. He ripped off the tape holding it together and opened it. The first thing he noticed was a letter laid out on top with the words Dear Kintoki on it. He had a sudden urge to punt the box into the now cold bathtub.
The candles melted and gave off a weak, dying light, but it was still enough to decipher Tatsuma's words on the paper.
Dear Kintoki,
Knowin' what awaits you tonight, I know you'll probably be too busy for it. Still, I wanted you to light one lantern up for me and Zura, too. In that way it'll be like we're all back together, the four of us.
P.S. It's a bit busted but should work.
P.P.S Good luck today!
P.P.P.S. I'm comin' back to Earth soon, so let's celebrate, Kintoki!
-Tatsuma
It's Gin, not Kin. He couldn't help but smile, though. He missed seeing that stupid mug of his and the news of his return lightened up his mood. He set the letter aside and lifted the lantern out of the box. Its design was simple but beautiful – brushstrokes of black and pink ink depicted a bird in flight and branches of sakura blossoms on a peach-colored background.
He felt gloomy about missing the opening ceremony before, but looking at the lantern in his hands, he decided to light it up after everything was over. He was reminded of two faces that he'll never see again, and his heart clenched in grief. He could never truly say goodbye to them.
But he wanted to try.
And he was sure Zura and Tatsuma would as well.
For the umpteenth time since he agreed to this thing, Gintoki wanted to give up. The group he was watching now, the one performing before him, was absolutely killing it.
The dancers were performing a sparrow dance on the stage lifted above water. Their fans, each in one hand, fluttered in a mesmerizing display of skill, as if they were part of one bigger mechanism. The accompanying music was animated and gave off a much different mood from his own dance. Or rather, Aya's.
The crowd was eating it up; with each wave their fans made, people cheered in amazement. And there were more people Gintoki counted on. While the stage itself wasn't large, it was eclipsed by the size of the semicircle stands the audience was stationed on. They were split in three sections; the middle one was smaller and reserved for the upper echelons of both Earth and the Empire. The stands on the sides were filled with the public, whether they were locals or Amanto that visited to enjoy the festivities.
"Why did they put them before me? People will have actual expectations now."
The Yorozuya four stood in a special tunnel for performers, under the creaking wooden stands. They returned to keep Gintoki company and cheer him on, but Aya was nowhere in sight. There were only a few minutes left until his part, and the ceremony would end with a few words from both Princess Soyo and Ren.
"Gin-chan, no one'll care about your lousy dance", Kagura said encouragingly, poking around in her nose.
Shinpachi nodded in agreement. "You could stand there for three minutes straight, and no one would complain."
"Waf!"
I see; they're a nice crowd.
The final notes of the instruments announced the end of the group's swallow dance and they bowed to the joyful audience. Gintoki felt a nervous lump form itself in his stomach as the dancers passed him, giving him wide-eyed looks, even bumping into each other in the tunnel to get a better look. Before he could do anything, he was pushed forward by two palms and a paw.
He turned around and saw their beaming faces, giving him the thumbs up and wishing him good luck, along with Sadaharu's yips. His heart clenched again, but the reason this time being bliss. Whatever today would bring, he knew he would return to those smiling faces, and they would continue on their chaotic days.
Before fully stepping out of the tunnel, he saw Aya's face join the group. Their face was flushed, and they were panting hard, but Gintoki was glad nonetheless that they'd made it in time. He sighed in relief and turned towards the stage, his mind at peace.
The stage silently sunk beneath the dark water, its waves lapping the boards until they finally stilled into a mirror-like visage. The full blue moon reflected on its surface, a perfectly round sphere almost dipping in water, low and majestic on the horizon. While Gintoki could see the wind sway the blossoming branches of the shore across, it was far enough not to disturb the moon's reflection.
Gintoki took one last deep breath and stepped outside.
The clamoring crowd on the stands went dead silent.
On his one side, the audience stands spread under the palace walls like an open fan. On the other side, a marvelous sight of pink flowers glowed in the moonlight, serving as a natural backdrop for all the performers tonight. He treaded the water, circular ripples following his gait. His sleeves fluttered, lighter than feathers, and his skirt, the water not obstructing it, glided along its surface. The precious stones along his body glittered in the moonlight like tiny stars. He walked up to the middle of the stage and waited with bated breath for the first note to signal the beginning of the dance and assumed the starting stance.
His eyes were closed, but he couldn't help but crack one eye open to look at the middle stands. He saw Ren, not honoring the deal they've made before. Liar. Next to him sat Princess Soyo, and they were surrounded by a bunch of officials Gintoki didn't know the names of. He could, however, recognize the unmistakable Shinsengumi uniforms that guarded them, along with the ones that probably acted as Imperial knights.
And among them, as a beacon in the dark, stood Hijikata.
He closed his eyes again.
The weight of the silver blade at his hip served as an anchor. The grip he had on it instilled him with a sense of tranquility. He imagined himself back on his secret meadow. This is something I've done hundreds of times. Forget the crowd. Let loose.
And so, he did.
Shinpachi. Kagura. Sadaharu.
The first strums of instruments resonated in the fresh April air. Gintoki languidly pulled the blade from his hip, its shine blending with that of the moon. As the introduction of the song trickled by, his hands rose with the blade; one holding it, and the other brushing against its edge in an intimate caress.
Waiting for the song to pick up.
You know what?
He stepped forward, as if thrusting at an invisible opponent. His blade dipped downwards, catching the water, and slicing upwards, creating an arc in the silhouette of the moon behind him. He and his invisible partner continued to circle one another. He dodged a strike at his side rotating his torso, the fabric on his body floating with each movement. Gintoki, in retaliation, swung his blade in a straight line as he lunged forward, the silver of his blade leaving a gleaming half-moon.
Not once did they touch one another.
You're loud and bratty. You're hard-working and warm. You're strong enough to lift my burdens, and strong enough to let me carry yours.
There was no blood, no wounds.
This was not a battle fought with violence.
It wasn't only a dance, and it wasn't only swordplay. It was both.
Gintoki raised his leg high, dispersing the water into tiny droplets that danced among his numerous jewels. He struck the blade with both hands into the wooden board and kicked, aiming for his enemy's head.
I…
His silver locks bounced as if they had a life of their own, adorned in the spilled starlight of glittering crystals.
He resumed his movement in one fluid motion and slid back, water spraying and his sleeves swelling around him, as he impaled the floor beneath him to stop. He charged forward in a low stance, his silver sword trailing behind him like the tail of a shooting star. He shot up from below, cutting the air in a crescent swing.
You're my home.
His gleaming eyes trapped the night sky, the moon merely a distant dream in front of their fervor. They were fixated on their enemy, burning even when half-lidded.
His partner evaded him.
Gintoki threw the silver blade high up in the air, its glint carving the starry veil. He sprang forth, vaulting over his opponent and grabbing the blade midair. His back arched as he twisted whilst airborne, his figure curving with the shape of the celestial sphere behind him.
My family.
The blue moon embraced his pure form, and for a moment he was frozen in air, transparent fabric floating around him and his jewels swaying in the air. A bluish-silver halo shrouded him, and he became the moon itself.
My everything.
He landed on the water once more, crouching while luminescent drops scattered around him. With his body bent on one knee, Gintoki gripped the blade hard and stabbed the air in front, piercing the back of his opponent. His enemy, under his enthralling gaze, slumped forward on his knees.
Gintoki slowly rose, as the music trickled back into his ears, and raised the sword with both hands high above his head. He swiftly brought the blade down, ending this dueling dance. The shockwave from his strike traveled over the water, rippling the stars and the moon resting on its surface.
Shinpachi. Kagura. Sadaharu.
And while the strums of strings melted away into oblivion, Gintoki delicately slipped the silver blade back onto his hip, where it lay comfortably against his thigh. He turned towards the stands and bowed in a simple manner, ready to slip away as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Silence veiled the moonlit night as he stepped off the stage.
A god had descended onto a secluded waterfront.
A soft, orange glow of floating lanterns irradiated their figure as they kneeled on the ground. Their translucent attire swayed gently in the wind, showered in the delicate touch of sinking pink petals. The water in front of them was blooming with lotus flowers as if inviting the celestial to bathe with them.
They held a simple but charming lantern between their embellished fingers. The light coming from within illuminated their wistful face, their silver locks unable to hide the pain in those captivating eyes.
After being witness to Gintoki's sword dance, Ren, as well as his acting guards, Kondou, Hijikata and Sougo, couldn't comprehend the sight in front of them. They felt as if they were looking at something endlessly beautiful. Something otherworldly. No human could look like that; no human could move like that.
Yet there he was, gently lowering the lit-up lantern into the water to join others. Gintoki's hands came together, closing his eyes as he whispered a prayer. It was a pristine moment that all four of them wanted to commit to memory, never to end.
Gintoki slowly opened his eyes, startled when he noticed them staring at him. He frowned, but the gesture was alluring as his gaze got sharper. "You're here to laugh at me? Ugh, give me a break. It's finally over." He stretched his arms above his head, however, the simple movement looked anything but. It resembled one of his dance moves; every time he shifted, he did so with godly grace. Even his grumbling sounded like a divine aria.
He stood up and noticed the jingling of his jewelry. "Ah, gotta take all of this off…"
Ren moved and lifted a fallen plum flower from the ground. He braved forward and stuck the flower into Gintoki's hair. Words eluded him, but he managed to squeeze out: "Your performance was good."
Gintoki looked surprised, his maroon eyes sparkling in wonder. He turned towards the Shinsengumi trio, wanting to confirm his words. "Really?"
Kondou didn't really know what to say; he wanted to say so much, but he ended up just nodding. He never would have imagined seeing this side of Yorozuya, not in a hundred years. Sougo wanted to tease Gintoki, however when his gaze fell on his, he couldn't make himself do so. He forsook the sadist inside and nodded in agreement. "Danna, you managed to survive this thing."
Hijikata dreaded meeting his eyes. It felt like a dam would break if he started speaking now, so he simply nodded, not meeting his stare.
"Great", Gintoki sighed in relief. "I'm beat. I'll go take all of this off. Enjoy your walk." He nonchalantly waved and left, his white veil trailing behind him.
The four could breathe normally once again.
Ren's face schooled itself back into a cold, stony expression. The Shinsengumi trio had done the same.
"What did you say?"
Aya donned an apologetic look on their face.
After triumphantly returning to his tent with the rest of the Yorozuya in tow (that showered him in sympathetic compliments), he was greeted by ecstatic Aya.
"Amazing, awesome, majestic, grand! Gintoki!" They practically jumped into his arms and went on to celebrate with Shinpachi, Kagura and Sadaharu, twirling them around. "What a great day! Isn't that right?" Their mood was contagious and soon they all bounced around laughing, save for Gintoki who watched from afar, smiling like he hadn't done in a long time.
The party had simmered down by the time Gintoki came back from lighting up the lantern. He only planned to release it in front of the tent, since it could apparently travel to water by itself, but it miserably sank in a nearby pond and refused to budge. Gintoki didn't want it to be on its own, so he decided to manually lay it down.
The tent was quiet, save for the breathing sounds coming from the sleeping Yorozuya. Gintoki slipped past them and sat next to Aya before the vanity mirror. "Please, take everything off."
Aya looked almost sad. "It fits you, truly, Gintoki", they said woefully. "But I agree: it is time to get you back to your old self." They grabbed the bulky (weapon) makeup applicator and aimed it at his face. They gave him one long look before pulling the trigger.
The flash of light blinded him yet again.
This time, though, the following sound almost deafened him.
Only a pile of metal scraps lay in their charred hands; not a trace of the bazooka was left after the explosion. Gintoki shot up and held their hands in his. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?" He tried to inspect their wounds, but it turned out to be only black powder.
Aya, however, paid no mind to their hands as they inspected his face. "I can't tell if it worked…"
Gintoki could hear Shinpachi and Kagura stirring, investigating the source of the sound.
"What did you say?"
"Oh", Aya stuttered. "It… it appears that the bazooka… the applicator broke. Exploded, really. Good news is, I think it did its job."
"And the bad news is?" Gintoki inquired, not wanting to hear the answer.
"Bad news being… if it didn't, there is no way to reverse its effects."
…
Oh.