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Tsukuyo didn’t get to see Kabukicho much in these late night early morning hours. Usually, she was working hard to keep Yoshiwara safe when it was busiest. At this time, when the last customers were making their way home from the underground city district, it was even more important to show them that the Hyakka were watching and guarding the women. Frustrated men could get up to all kinds of acts of desperation – some of them very harmful and dangerous.
But tonight was calm, so for once, she could leave Yoshiwara to the trusted hands of her subordinates and instead observe Kabukicho at these hours between dark and dawn. Drunk men were stumbling through the main streets – swaying in the breeze like leaves of trees that had lost the grip on their branches. They seemed similarly lost and aimless. It smelled like booze, smoke, perfume and somewhere in there Tsukuyo could make out the sweet scent of flowers.
It was spring.
Sakura season.
She stayed out of sight from the customers making their way home – their pockets lighter than before… some of them had lost everything but their underpants. Kabukicho catered to other needs than Yoshiwara – it sold the promise of wealth. But both districts made their money off of desperate men’s hopes. Tsukuyo took to the smaller streets. The alleys which the people who lived here took to get back to their sleeping places. They weren’t dark, not necessarily, but had much less drunk, angry people. Citizens of Yoshiwara and Kabukicho knew that one better stayed away from those who had just lost everything. Again.
The empty alleyways opened out to the lonely road next to the park. There were more park benches than streetlights, as if the Edo city planners had tried to save money… in the wrong department. On one of these unlit park benches, she noticed the cold gleam of very light hair. Tsukuyo would recognise this specific shock of silver anywhere. The curls were ruffled and hanging into the face hidden underneath. Or next to it in this case, as Gintoki was currently in a more vertical than horizontal position.
His eyes were drooped but he didn’t seem to be asleep, just intoxicated. Tsukuyo felt her cheeks warm against her will… She wasn’t supposed to think he was attractive… in the way that the light just hardly caught on his features and made his pale skin light up and his hair glisten.
“Gintoki,” she said harshly as if she was completely unbothered. “Whatcha doin’ here?” He slowly lifted his head and tried to sit more upright. He failed miserably.
“Contemplating the miracles of life,” he replied and shook his nearly empty sake bottle. “I could ask you the same. Did you get lost in the dark?”
“I never get lost,” Tsukuyo blushed even more. “I’m a trained kunoichi.”
“Even the ones with the sharpest senses can get lost in the dark. When it happens, they can only wait for the sun to rise or for someone to show them a way out.” He took a deep breath and his looked intently at her. “It’s very hard to find your way when you are lost in the darkness.” His half-lidded eyes glistened and for once they didn’t look like dead fish eyes.
Tsukuyo was afraid of these moments because they told of the incredible strength hidden in this daytaller. She was afraid and she hated these moments. Gintoki was never more dangerous and more attractive than when his eyes came alive. “I was running an errand.” She said to get out of this situation. “I was just on my way home.”
“Ah, good… so you do have time for me.” He smiled a soft, gooey smile and Tsukuyo cursed internally for having told him. She could have gotten out of this situation so easily otherwise…
“I don’t. I have to get back to Hinowa and…”
“Yes, you do.” Gintoki tried to unsuccessfully sit up again. “I drank too much, and I can’t get up. I need a friend to guide me home. We are friends, aren’t we?”
“We are not…” she sputtered. “… friends…” But she did lean closer so that he could hook his arm over her shoulder.
She pulled him up. The stench of cheap sake, chocolate and a man who hadn’t showered for at least three days assaulted her, but she didn’t hate it as much as she should have. This was Gintoki’s scent and something about it was raw and blunt - just like his bokuto. He was heavy and leaned onto her like a sack of rice, but Tsukuyo managed to heave him up. She stepped forward and he followed.
“There is nothing better than a strong woman to lean on,” Gintoki mumbled, and his head nearly slumped against hers. He was either inhaling her scent or staring into her décolleté… she blushed again and tried to ignore it. She took a few more steps and pulled him forward.
“At least lift yer feet. I ain’t gonna carry ya home.” To her own surprise, he actually did what she said.
Like this, they silently made their way along the street. The full moon was illuminating the way with her cold, silver light; the street lamps added their warmer, golden shine to the scenery… a soft breeze brushed through the cherry trees, picked up the first flower petals and carried them along the way like the first indications of winter snow. But the air was warm, and the first birds started to sing. Soon, the sun would rise. It could have been such a romantic scene if the main character hadn’t been a drunken man who was hardly keeping himself upright, and the one carrying him a person who denied herself to be a woman.
They made it half-way until Gintoki stopped her, leaned over, and splattered the contents of his stomach against the next wall. He wiped his mouth, and they continued their way with the smell of vomit added into the mix. At least, he had regained a bit of balance.
Eventually, they reached the Yorozuya.
Tsukuyo had to basically carry Gintoki up the stairs where she leaned him against the wall. “Ya get yerself inside without my help, right?”
“Uh, sure…” He sighed and looked at her. Just looked at her with his dark, gleaming eyes. “How did you find me?” he suddenly asked.
“What?” Tsukuyo was confused by his question.
“It was dark. I lay on this bench so that no one would spot me. How did you find me?”
“Yer… uh… hair” She blushed again and hated how nervous and insecure she was whenever Gintoki looked at her. “It reflects the light.”
“Ah yes.” Gintoki nodded and opened the door. “Silver glistens the most when the moon shines upon it. Thank you, Tsukuyo.” He turned away and used the wall to steady himself enough to open the door. Slowly, he shoved it open and stepped inside. Tsukuyo didn’t quite know what to do, so she just stood and watched him. But he didn’t look back. Without another word, he closed the door behind him and she could hear him quietly call for his monstrous dog. Tsukuyo cleared her throat and shook off the emotions starting to well up inside her. She straightened her kimono and walked down the stairs hoping that this had just been a meaningless interaction. But the scent of an unspoken promise remained in her nose.
https://www.deviantart.com/larawegenaerarts/art/GinTsu-932316255