Disclaimer: I do not own Gintama. Sorachi does
"Well, we have no choice but to move in with you guys", Gin said to the Shimura siblings. Somehow, Sadaharu got a virus that made its poop to explode. The whole Yorozuya Headquarters was destroyed and the city council orders to take away Sadaharu for treatment in which made Kagura upset. They also have to work double time for the reconstruction. The 4 members were busy moving in all the belongings. Gintoki suddenly went to the guest bedroom when he noticed there are already clothes and items there and obviously doesn't belong to Shinpachi.
"Shinpachi, do you have a visitor?" Then he saw a Shinsenggumi uniform, 'What the heck is this doing here?'
Shinpachi went to him, "Ahh…Gin-san we forgot to tell you something…"
"I'M HOME FAMILY!"
"Oh my gosh, can he stop saying that?" Shinpachi got out from the room, completely ignoring his boss. Gin's thought the voice sounds familiar. 'No way…' he thought. He went back to the living room to find…
"You!"
"You!" Gin cannot believe his eyes. "Shinpachi-kun…Otae…did you know his things are in the guest room?!"
"We know Gin-san…"
"What?!" Then he faced Otae, "Why are you not freaking out Otae?! Your stalker is slowly moving in with you…"
"Gomen Gin-san. We forgot to tell you."
"Allow me to explain this to him Otae-san." To his shock, Kondo placed his hand on Otae-shoulder to move her away from him and she's not even punching him. Shinpachi doesn't have reaction too.
"2 days ago, Sogou's bazooka malfunctioned and nearly killed Toshi. He destroyed our headquarters so they are all staying in Princess Soyo's palace."
"Then why are you here? Or I get it, you just want to move in with them so you can stalk as much as you could…"
"Gin-san that's rude!"
"Otae! How could you defend this guy? Oi Gorilla! Did you give her a love potion?"
"Hey! My stalker days are behind me! I have clear intention towards Otae-san and I'm making my moves on her respectfully. I've never been to Yoshiwara ever since that day."
"I'm so confused!" Gintoki's began to feel dizzy. It feels like all of them is pranking him.
"We'll tell you the details but for now let's have lunch…" Kondo exclaimed.
"Otae don't cook. We'll just order food delivery. I'm still tired from moving these things—"
Tae wants to punch him but she managed to cool down, "No worries. Kondo-san is our cook while he stays…"
"What?!" He definitely knew that gorilla is adding some potion to lure them. He wants to investigate him in the kitchen but Otae punched him and dragged him to sit at the dining table. He's stunned how Otae was so protective of that gorilla. 'That woman is indeed a gorilla'.
"WOW!" Kagura was delighted to see a 5 star like quality of foods in front of her.
"You did it again Kondo-san."
"Thanks for the praise, Brother-in-law"
"Please don't call me that".
"Wow! As a gorilla you can really cook. Gin-chan! A gorilla is better cook than you!" Kagura teased Gintoki to his dismay. He grew more annoyed when Kondo smirked at him while Otae laughs.
"Hey don't talk like that Kagura. Without me cooking, you will end up in the streets asking for a spare of sukonbu."
"Nah- huh! It will never happen that I know Kondo-san can cook."
"Taste it Gin-san. Trust me..." Otae said. Something about her that particular moment he felt weird. He grabbed a spoonful of rice and beef.
"So, what do you think of Kondo-san's cooking?'
He tightened his hold of the spoon, "I'm better at cooking!"
"No you are lying! You are just jealous because Otae-san prefers my cooking than you now!" Otae was flustered on what Kondo said.
"Why would I be jealous to someone who can't even cook—" Next moment, his face kissed the floor bloody.
He regained consciousness, "So tell me why you two are so comfortable with this gorilla?"
Shinpachi started, "When you left for a journey with Takasugi-san, Kondo invited himself in to stay with us."
Kondo continued, "I had to go to this diplomatic wedding with Princess Bubbles so I want to train myself here as a househusband…"
"In which your excuse is crappy because I can see through you that you just want to spend some time with me as stalking." Otae replied.
"Well yeah, I mean you're also a gorilla so I imagined myself treating you as my wife," Kondo rest his head on his hand as he reminisced, "Those 2 years of domestic life was a bliss…"
"Two years?! What do you mean domestic life?" Gin was startled with that fact.
"Well, like cooking, helping me with the chores and do some grocery…stuff like that…" Otae said.
Gin was thinking way more things, "Just like that? Nothing more than that?" Otae was confused with his question but Kondo knew what he was thinking, "Huh, I wished we do more than that—"
Now it was Kondo's turn to face the floor. "How do I not even know this?!" Gin asked.
"Because you never ask."
"Duh! I need to know! I'm part of the family!"
"Gin-san, a lot happened during those years and the time you came back. It's not a big deal anymore…"
"But…" 'When did they became close? Was it that time Kondo was about to be executed?'
"But those 2 years were memorable for me. Living you guys and treating Otae as my wife…" Kondo said as he regained consciousness. Gin noticed a pink blush on Otae. 'No way… '
"Kondo-san, calm down. Because of that, people made a rumor about us…"
"What rumor?"
"People thought Aneue and Kondo-san got a shotgun marriage since he stayed with us. Otose included. She thought he married a gorilla not knowing Kondo-san was about to get married to a real Gorilla." Shinpachi answered.
"His food doesn't help either. It was so good I gained some pounds. They thought I'm pregnant because of my belly so I have to put this weight loss program in the dojo…." Gin imagined the chaos of that rumor especially seeing Otae with that belly. He felt something weird in the pit of his stomach.
"Well, we finished eating so I'll just wash these. Aneue you want to go somewhere right?"
"Oh yes… Kagura-chan, can you go out with me for some shopping?"
"Yahoo!" The two girls waved goodbye while Shinpachi went straight to the kitchen, leaving the two male adults.
"I can see your uneasiness…"
"Well, Obviously, it's weird to see a stalker so comfortably living with them. Two years to be exact!"
"Well times have changed Gintoki. Do you remember our fight under the bridge. You cheated on that game so I still have the chance to be close to Otae-san... ". He stood up, facing Gin seriously this time, "And obviously I'm winning…"
"Otae is not an object…."
"But you are treating her like that right?" Gin was stupefied. "I don't treat her like crap like you do. Even if she can't cook then I will be the one to cook for her because she trusts me. You know what, I should be thankful to you not just for tagging with Toshi and Sogou for rescuing me, Zura and the shogun. I'm thankful that you were gone for two years, it opened a pathway for them to let me in with their lives." Kondo bowed to him and left, leaving Gin bewildered. 'What was that?'
"I'm sorry Gin-san… You have to stay in the farthest room. Kagura occupied the other one and Kondo-san got the room that should be for you". Gin's energy was about to dropped when he heard what Shinpachi just said. And the fact that Gorilla's room is just in front of Otae's made him feel upset.
"Why am I so upset about this?! It's her decision to be with that Gorilla. Its not my fault if one day she saw him sneaking while she was changing clothes." He said not noticing the people around him as he walks around the Kabuku district. He planned to go to Pachinko but as he enters the room, he felt not going there anymore so he walked back again. His mind became haywire when he remembers Kondo said about the domestic life they had when he was gone. He imagined a lot of things that he shook his head so hard just to delete those images out of his head.
He went inside the Kodoukan dojo when he saw Otae getting ready. She was in this beautiful yellow kimono and white butterfly hairpin. She also put some light make up.
"It's my first time to see you in that kimono. Are you gonna attend a party?" He asked her as he sat down at the porch.
Otae wants to lie, noticing his uneasiness during their meal earlier but she opts to tell the truth. "I'm going out with Kondo-san and this kimono was a gift from him…"
"Huh?" A lot of questions going through his head but only that word came out. The way he said it almost in a whisper made Otae felt something, "Kondo-san bought me this concert ticket for Bz's. You know I love them, right?" Otae continue to fixed her hair as she noticed the awkward silence between them.
"Good for you… "
"Huh?" It's her turn to be stunned.
"I never knew you're going out with him. How long have you two been dating?"
"I don't consider this a date. I actually I don't know" She remembers the first time they actually had a date which was a baseball game. "If I consider this one, this will be the second time…"
"You really become soft to him huh..." She looked at him but he's just looking down, not facing her.
"Well, he's a changed man Gin-san..."
"How do you know?" He suddenly stood up, facing her. His once poker face becomes distraught. She thought she's imagining things. 'There's no way Gin…'
"Are you jealous Gin-san?"
"No, I'm not! It's just…"
"I am single Gin-san. I can date whoever I want!"
"Oh. I see then let me ask one thing: Why are you so comfortable with him?"
"You remember what happened at the bar? I defended him and you punched that ugly shogun? That's the time I started to feel lonely without his presence." Gin felt a stung around his chest from her confession.
"Oh…"
Otae started at him. She felt gloomy upon the realization. They were so close before but what happened to them? She actually became soft for Kondo but she never sees it as a romantic way and because of this, she and Gin fell apart. She became a sideline character for him.
"OTAE-SAN I'M HERE!" The tension got distracted by Kondo-san's attention. Otae started at Gintoki for one moment but Gin did not bother to look. Gin only looks back as Kondo drapes his arm over Otae's shoulder as they leave the dojo.
"You're not getting away with it…."
"Can't believe I'm doing this…" Gin said to himself as he was hiding along with the tree branches. He followed the 2 gorillas until they reached the concert venue. Gin was crestfallen as he saw Otae smiling at Kondo as they enjoy the concert.
"GIN-SAN!" Gin almost dropped when a purple-haired ninja hugged him.
"Sarutobi! What are you doing here?!"
"Well, I want to check if my love rival already concedes to the battle. Looks like I do have a chance for
your heart!" She hugged him tighter.
"Get off me! And don't stalk to Otae as well!"
"Why do you care about her? She's already in love with Kondo-san! Look he won that means a stalker like me also have the chance-" Sarutobi was flown away due to Gin's punch. His attention went back to those two and he felt a pang on his chest when he saw Kondo looking at Otae lovingly as a romantic song was playing:
I wanna make you smile, whenever you're sad
Carry around when your arthritis is bad
All I wanna do is to grow old with you
I'll buy your medicine when your tummy ache
Carry you around when you have too much to drink
All I wanna do is to grow old with you.
Otae's mind was full of moments of Gin and her and she wonders why she was thinking of him all of a sudden. She was here with Kondo but moments when she was taking care of Gin when he was wounded, helping him when he's drunk or just going shopping alongside with the kids were playing in her mind. Kondo on the other hand, was thinking the other way around.
They went home as soon as they finished the concert. Otae was about to open the gate when Kondo grabbed her arm and stared at her intently. All of a sudden, he was leaning into her. They did not know a white-haired guy was watching them from a far. Gin felt his breath just stopped, waiting what would happen.
Otae put her fingers on his mouth, "I did go out with you but it doesn't mean you have the right to kiss me now…" Kondo became scared. Otae was not emitting a dark aura like she used to. She was just…serious. And that was scarier.
"I'm sorry Otae-san. If I ask you out again, can we kiss?" Otae did not answer instead she opened the gate and hurriedly went inside. Kondo blamed himself for getting too fast but he gained hope when Otae did not approve or reject his request.
The guy on the bush finally breathes in but that night he can't sleep.
The next morning, Gin went out from his bedroom looking groggy when Otae went out as well. Usually, they greet each other but this particular morning, somehow no words were spoken. Otae felt dejected. She doesn't want this kind of atmosphere between him and her.
All 5 of them sat in the dining room when Kondo stood up, signaling that he will cook them breakfast when Gin also stood up, "I'll make breakfast this time."
"Really Gin-chan? All you know is steamed rice and raw egg on top with soy sauce."
Gin wants to throw Kagura out as she was not helping his situation but he calmed himself, "I was not able to help with the chores yesterday while staying here so I think it's my turn—"
"No No way! I already declare myself as the cook here-"
"Who told you that?!"
Kondo cannot answer, "Well Brother-in-law?"
"We never declare you. We just let you cook but anyone here can cook. And please stop calling me that!"
"Ha! Take that Gorilla!"
"You my beloved Otae-san! Who do you think should cook today's breakfast?"
Gin was disappointed that Otae does not have any reaction when she was called his beloved, "I...um…"
"How about a Shokugeki?!" Kagura declared, making them faced her.
"Kagura-chan, we cannot do that besides if they cook, we will end up ripping our clothes—"
"Shut up Megane! Food wars is over. We can do everything we want!"
"That's a good suggestion Kagura-chan!" Kondo pointed his finger to Gintoki, "Let's fight! Otae-san would be the judge!"
"Hey How about us?! I did the suggestion!" Kagura protested. Shinpachi was quiet during the argument, instead he was realizing something. He looked at his big sister. His sister was looking on one guy.
"You kids just enjoy MY dish. So will you accept a shokugeki with me?"
Gin accepted his hand, "Fine. I'll fight you."
To be continued….
Notes: As much as I love GinTae to have a simple love story, I also enjoyed some angst so I apologized in advance if you will feel some disappointment in some scenes. I just want their story to be realistic as possible. And I think Kondo is the perfect character for Gintoki to be jealous of. Looking how close Otae and Kondo became towards the end of the anime, I feel sad but I think it's appropriate to use those scenes on how Gin would react if he finds out. I want Gintoki to suffer obviously hehehe. Forgive me Gin-san! Like I said I want this story to be realistic. Not all love story has a fairytale adventure. You fight, you have some misunderstandings and you will make some wrong decisions. But even with those mistakes, if two people were destined to be with each other…well if it's meant to be, it's meant to be.
The under the bridge fight was from episode 8
The part which Otae said she defended Kondo and Gin punched the Shogun was from Episode 309 (Farewell Shinsenggumi arc)
The rumors about them getting a shotgun wedding was from episode 362 (If I'm not mistaken it was from the Silver soul arc). When I first saw this in the manga I was heartbroken. I really thought they hooked up. I saw a tumblr post that it was stated in the manga that Kondo did live with the Shimuras for two years (in my dismay). Who knows what happened there. On the same Tumblr post, I saw a screenshot of a scene of Kondo presenting a yellow kimono to Otae as a gift. The next panel shows she was wearing it in one of the opening songs (in my dismay again huhuhu)
The scene of BZs concert was inspired by the scene of Kondo handling concert ticket to Otae from the Last Movie.
Shokugeki is from anime Food Wars
The song used here was I wanna grow old with you by Adam Sandler from the movie The Wedding Singer.