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It is a lazy morning at the Yorozuya. One of those occasional days Gintoki is not expecting to be woken up by loud teenagers, the abrupt clash of kitchen utility, or heavy stomps from their family dog. Gintoki wakes up even later than usual on what he expects to be a perfectly slow day. Kagura and Shinpachi are spending the day mostly at the Shimura dojo: something related to the dojo classes which, as of recently, managed to attract a great number of students. How useful would those classes be? Only time could tell.
He walks, scratching his belly and giving a lazy yawn towards the bathroom. Gintoki looks at himself in the mirror, admiring how handsome he is, even if his perm is in an alarming shape. He combs it a couple of times with his fingers and then washes his face. The yorozuya finishes rinsing his face when he notices the Elizabeth-designed white toothbrush next to him. Gintoki sighs, thinking about a certain someone who recently visited his house. Zura had been visiting so much as of late, and knowing him it makes sense he would think it is a good idea to just leave his toothbrush in here.
At the kitchen he grabs a carton of his beloved strawberry milk and then some rice with tuna as breakfast. He greets Sadaharu, who is still sleeping. He opens the drawers to grab a cup for the milk when he finds a suspiciously white new element inside. "Oi, oi, are you kidding me Zura?" Gintoki grumbles. Taking the cup with his hand, the perm head realizes that, indeed, it is an Elizabeth-designed cup. He wonders if Zura is starting some kind of weird promotional Elizabeth-themed merchandise. Anyway, he has to admit, the strawberry milk looks so cute in that cup so he uses it.
Gintoki watches TV, not thinking much about strange space creatures or goofy samurais in white spandex suits. He has to admit he is able to find himself enjoying some good, peaceful breakfast. Maybe he will then dedicate himself to watching TV and reading Jump without interruption.
But then, after opening the closet to grab a new shirt and a pillow, he witnesses the box. Entirely filled with towels, shampoos, T-shirts. Hell, he would have added pom-poms if he could, Gintoki thinks.
"What the hell? Is my house being actively invaded without my permission?! Zura??" Gintoki groans, taking out all the things inside the box, admiring just how many things could be put inside. There was no way, Gintoki reflects, that Zura would leave this without a hidden motive! That con man! The yelling alarms Sadaharu who comes running to his aid. The tired samurai shows him the shameful merch invading their household.
"Do you see this, Sadaharu? They are trying to replace you as the official pet of the show GinTama." Gintoki says seriously. He glances once more, noticing there is another, more distinct object at the bottom of the box. It is a beautiful comb made of boxwood, with some design in the form of delicate branches. The comb is a testament of an era they already passed, and Gintoki can recognize it everywhere, anytime. This comb belonged to Shouka Sonjuku, to their childhood. Such an instrument was used by Katsura as a child, and sometimes Shouyou would help him comb his long dark hair with it, after infusing the comb with camellia oil. It was the most common way of using these combs in the Edo period. Gintoki remembers how hypnotizing the movement was, just as how hypnotizing the memory of those days becomes, engulfing him with nostalgia. It is a true miracle the comb survived the decades filled with blood and revolution. Even more, how long the probability of Katsura still keeping this comb until now is. There is definitely something up, so he stands up.
"Sadaharu! Are you ready?" Gintoki declares, pointing at the clueless dog. "We are going to fight for your right to be the main pet in GinTama! That wig doesn’t know who he’s messing with!" After changing his clothes, knowing his previous plans were obliterated by Katsura Kotarou, as they always are… The yorozuya decides to take out Sadaharu on a very deserved walk. Oh, yes. Of course, this is all to visit the man who has plagued his mind a lot in the last hours.
The new Edo has not changed much, no matter how much a certain MADAO tried to alter reality a while ago; Kabukicho is always filled with restaurants and karaoke, as well as entertainment for the family during the day, such as cinemas and parks. During the night it is another story, establishments such as pachinko and host bars are more noticeable, the long streets adorned with bright lights and sketchy people. Posters of women in bikinis everywhere contrast with the elegance of well dressed men on the big advertisements next to them. For Gintoki, this is his home. It is still early, and the sun hits both man and pet as they walk, the permed head looking around for any particular sign of Zura. He does not find much until he reaches the park. It is a wide place, where he normally takes Sadaharu with the kids. During April, there are still some cherry blossoms retaining their pink color, with the remaining petals resisting falling. The wind is nice, even if his perm resists any important movement.
Gintoki walks towards the wide green area, which Sadaharu loved to run and socialize in, and his gaze is distracted by some familiar faces. A group of three, consisting of Shinpachi, Kagura, and Zura, are talking with each other. They do not seem to notice him at first, and only after the sudden bark of his dog friend does the group turn towards him. Kagura rushes towards Sadaharu in order to hug him, followed by the two guys behind her.
"Gin-san! You are here as well, it seems. What a coincidence! We were walking towards the office when we encountered Katsura-san." Shinpachi tells him.
"Ah, is that so?" Gintoki replies while cleaning his ear with his finger, looking disinterested. "Ugh, I just wanted to spend some quality time with Sadaharu here, and I had to find Zura here with you two. Well, at least you can finally be responsible for your dog and spend some time with him."
"He’s your dog as well! You should be responsible, too!" Shinpachi replies, exasperated, even if he knows Gintoki is being a liar. "Ugh, anyway! Kagura-chan, let’s go play with Sadaharu before returning home." Kagura, of course, seems delighted by the proposal and runs with Shinpachi and their dog to a distant area, leaving the two adults by themselves. Shinpachi probably knew what he wanted, such a good kid. When looking at Zura, he notices the man is gazing at the two teens with a soft smile, full of pride and warmth. But, no, Gintoki was not having such an endearing scene yet. So he smacks the wig’s hard head.
"Oi, Gintoki! What….?"
"That is what I want to ask you, Zura! Didn’t you think I would not notice all the Elizabeths staring at me at my own house?"
Katsura Kotaro looks at him, blinking, then grins in that idiotic way only he knows. "Don’t you think they are wonderful, Gintoki? I thought your house needed a bit of color, so you can thank me now! A bit of color and cuteness, like Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth is neither cute nor colorful, you idiot. Are you blind, Zura? Furthermore, what is it? Are you planning to move to my house or something?"
They walked towards a bench near them. As they kept bickering and walking, the gap between them closed; both men made contact with their shoulders even after sitting. "Wouldn’t that be wonderful, Gintoki? I go to your house many times a week, so why not?" Katsura proposes cheerfully.
"There is barely any space left. Besides, I do not want suspicious guys cosplaying in white spandex around my apartment. Did you even think about Sadaharu’s feelings while infesting our office with Elizabeth merchandise, ah? Are you really that shameless, Zura?"
"Oh, is poor Sadaharu sad about it? I must admit I might have overlooked that part. I expected that, after ending the manga, maybe they would both become the best of friends and tag."
"I see. You could not steal the main protagonist spot from me, or prevent Katsuratama from ending, so now you want at least Elizabeth to become the main pet. Very clever, Zura."
"It’s not Zura, it’s Katsura," his partner sighs, still looking at the teens playing far away. Zura always maintains a dignified posture, crossing his arms, even if he is saying the most stupid things. Gintoki chuckles.
"So, what? Are you going to pretend there is nothing more to your trap, conman? I know you the most, Zura." Gintoki says, looking dangerously at the other man. Zura can pretend all he wants, but he cannot fool him. Their shoulders are still touching, and he feels the man sighing before looking at him softly.
"It is just a memento. Do not think too much of it," The long-haired man confesses while looking at how Gintoki takes out the wooden comb from his white kimono. "Isn’t it wonderful how it has managed to remain here after all these years? The country has changed a lot. All the stories related to that comb come from the people who have used it. As long as this comb remains here, we know those stories exist."
Gintoki groans, his body falling as he sits more lazily, staring at the three above them, and even beyond the branches, towards the sky. "I knew it. I knew wigs tended to get sentimental from time to time like this, remembering old times, and yet I came here."
The comb is not the only thing that remains. The hair it used to comb miraculously happens to be next to Gintoki. No matter how many times Zura puts himself in danger, how many near-death experiences he has, how many suns rise and fall, and how many masters have had to be put down, Zura remains. The springs Gintoki can live alongside Zura will be countless; the bastard is just too resilient to leave his life.
"We are the only two left, Gintoki. And maybe that kid will happen to remember us. But it is not too bad to remember sometimes." Zura tells him. Gintoki looks at the cherry blossom tree above them. He sees the beautiful petals falling, like many comrades they had. They promise to blossom next year, like one lucky guy he knows did. But the trunk never changes. The trunk feeds the petals, then feeds the leaves during the other seasons, but remains constant. It is beautiful in its own way.
He decides to test the comb just to annoy the person who is always next to him, knowing the wood is oilless and old. It stops in the middle of the dark strands, naturally provoking a cry from the other samurai. "Oi, Gintoki! It hurts, stop it!"
Gintoki grins at Zura and looks at him. "There is not just the two of us anymore. There’s Kagura, Shinpachi, and Sadaharu too," Gintoki pauses, then fakes a groan. "Fine, your weird space duck can be mentioned as well. So there is no need to act like an old man yet, Zura."
"She’s not a weird space duck; she’s Elizabeth! Hmmm. By the way, the next time I go visit you, I should take some Elizabeth-certified pet food as well. I am certain Sadaharu will enjoy it. Do you think he will forgive me, Gintoki?"
"..."
"...." Katsura remains silent for exactly five seconds, then continues. "Ahem. Do you think Sadaharu-dono might like our new Elizabeth-designed pet food?"
"I heard you the first time!"
"Gintoki. Normally, people answer a question the first time they hear it. Did you forget sensei’s lessons already?"
"Are you for real? Are we just going to ignore Gin-san’s sentimental reply, huh? Is this it for me in this fic? Isn’t this a Gintoki-centered fic or something?"
"Ha, ha, ha! Maybe you think that’s true," Zura stands up, placing both hands on his hip. "But I have been inserting Elizabeth since the start of this story. Maybe you thought wrong?"
"You lured me into a trap for the whole set-up, and it led me to you. And you managed to somehow insert Elizabeth into the story without actually being with the actual Elizabeth. You are amazing, oi." The perm head laughs, tired.
"Yes, I am glad to be able to watch the cherry blossoms with you too. Besides," Katsura adds. "I already know. About what you told me."
Katsura places his hand under his chin, looking contemplative. Gintoki sighs again. Here it comes.
"By the way, Gintoki? Have you tried our new Elizabeth shampoos? We improved the formula. If I stay at the yorozuya, maybe I will teach you how to use it. It might be useful for your perm."
"I told you, you are not moving in!" Gintoki answered, while standing up next to the other man. They stare at each other for some time, until the perm head concedes, "Tsk. Fine, you can stay for dinner."
Gintoki walks toward the rest of his family, a smile on his face he wouldn’t dare show to anyone. He conceals it and calls the teenagers. It was already getting late, the sun saying its goodbyes in a trail of red shadings, "Oi, Kagura! Shinpachi! Zura is inviting us to dinner!"
The group of five walks towards their house in Kabukicho, two constants and three new pieces that fit well together. They bicker and laugh, kick each other, but remain side by side. Gintoki touches the comb inside his clothes, thinking how ridiculous it is for Zura to think they ever need mementos like that. An idiotic wig is more than enough for him. Wigs cannot stop talking about the past and won’t stop dreaming about the future, and perms are there to connect the dots of their present beautifully.
Gintoki can’t help but wonder, as they are having dinner at his house, if Zura will ever take away all the Elizabeth stuff with him. Maybe all that stuff will follow him forever. He prepares mentally to receive a full course on how to apply the limited-edition Elizabeth-designed shampoo. The perm head smiles, resigned to his fate.
Because that’s what life with Zura is like, since always.