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At some point of our lives, no matter our class or status in society, we’ve all had to share spaces. Whether at school, workplace, summer camp, training grounds, place of religion and many other situations, we are forced to share and to co-exist whether we like it or not.
Everyone knows Hijikata Toshiro did not have a ‘normal’ upbringing, he didn't really know stability or a sense of belonging. Perhaps he did at some point but those were mere borrowed moments. Did he ever learn how to share and co-exist or does he delude himself, does he simply pretend to be like everyone else?
Finding he belonged with the Shinsengumi puts him at ease in a way. He had grown used to the shared kitchen and bathroom spaces in the barracks with his men. It worked for everyone and he had more than enough privacy in his own quarters. He could smoke wherever and whenever he liked and eat to his heart's content. Without anyone whining about how gross or smelly his eating preferences were (Only he knew the true peak of culinary delicacy)
People often share the space of their homes with their families, Hijikata felt thankful that wasn't going to be the case for him, he would indulge in his habits as he pleased. After losing the only person he ever loved, that plan was certainly not on the cards for him.
Life is funny and has ways of surprising you, more often than not.
Hijikata never imagined he would fall in love again, much less with a man. Forget about that part, which is not the most shocking of it all. He never imagined he would fall in love with a man that had two kids and one big alien dog thing. Regardless of how bizarre it all sounds, he enjoys being with them, every single one. In that raggedy apartment atop of some old worn down bar.
He wonders how he got here, getting woken up at the crack of dawn to some run-of-the-mill idol’s music blasting in the living room, Sadaharu’s tail as a pillow instead of his own. Kagura drools on his leg, after coming over to him and Gintoki in the middle of the night. She was scared over some horror movie Hijikata advised her not to watch. Gintoki is draped all over him, being his usual human-furnace self, it would be nice if it wasn't a million degrees out. In between Gintoki and Kagura pushing and pulling he was literally outside of the futon.
Kagura slept in the closet next to them along with the dog. They had limitations regarding their intimate life, which could only come to fruition when Kagura and Sadaharu stayed at Otae’s place or if they took a trip to some love hotel nearby.
Hijikata had suggested they move to a big house where everyone, even the dog, could have their own space. Given the face Gintoki made, he Tsked and said Fine whatever . It was clear to Hijikata, he could see it in his eyes, he did not want to move away from -as he calls her- ‘the old hag’. Hijikata could tell in some ways, Otose was like his mother. (Not that Gintoki would admit it)
She had grown quite fond of Hijikata lately, he behaved properly in her bar, always gave her cigarettes or a light and paid rent (He knows she appreciates everything but definitely that last one is a big part). So moving out of the scruffy apartment was not an option for the Yorozuya family, that he now is a part of.
If Hijikata Toshiro (who has been living in his private quarters for the past 10+ years) permanently moves in with this insane family, he will be making some arrangements. For starters, Kagura and the dog need their own space, but what can he do with the limitations posed.
Luckily it hits him, the one episode that for the life of her the author can't remember the number but Shinpachi is shown in a small room hanging Gintoki’s kimonos to dry after washing. Hijikata buys a dryer, so the clothes can simply be thrown in there and there is no need to have one small room for that. This will be now renovated as Kagura’s room.
Hijikata does not recognize himself as he is looking at magazines and going with Kagura to the mall for the current mission of a room makeover. She wants the room to be just like ‘the ones in the movies’. Instead of smoking what would typically be his 7th cigarette of the morning he is painting walls white and pink. Instead of buying mayonnaise in bulk and coming back from the store, he is there for hours looking for a matching bed set and “kawawiiiii” decorations as Kagura calls them.
Hijikata is doing a million things except for what he should be doing but at the end of the day that is the magic of it. The way Hijikata Toshiro continues to know and discover more about himself because of his new family, he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
It’s Hijikata’s birthday and he is currently waiting for his order at the bakery, strawberry and chocolate cake with sweet cream cheese frosting inside, it is not appealing to him at all unless the bakery adds mayo (which he did not request). Typically on his birthday Hijikata would treat himself to a homemade mayonnaise cake with a few extra packets of cigarettes and call it a day. So why is it that he is standing at a local bakery getting an expensive cake he won't even eat from?
He had suspicions, he caught the kids giggling as they were hiding a few grocery bags which had some baking items and 4 bottles of mayo, he pretended not to see and carried on. They thought they were being sneaky but had forgotten that when you use someone’s credit card, it gets registered on the bank statement. He remembers the situation with certain fondness. This is his life now huh.
Like clockwork, Gintoki and the kids surprise him with the mayo cake. Gintoki whispers in his ear that he has a special surprise for him later. Sadaharu pukes in the middle of the living room because he ate 2 bottles of mayo that Gintoki left out of the pantry during birthday preparations. Shinpachi pulls out an ice cream cake from the freezer, it seems Hijikata wasn't the only one with the spare cake idea. Now they have 3 whole cakes for a family of four. Nothing to worry about, none of the cakes will see the next day.
Despite how well everything is going with his relationship with Gintoki and the kids, Hijikata sometimes wonders how disruptive he has been to their lives. Moving in, interjecting rules, properly feeding Sadaharu and paying rent. Moving Kagura out her closet, which despite being dark and cramped seems to be a place of comfort.
For the years he has known her, he has come to understand that as strange as she is, she is equally kind hearted. Hijikata aches for a cigarette as he assembles the new vanity mirror in her room, look at him being considerate of others and not wanting to leave any trace of smell in her new things. She is growing into a young woman and will eventually start going on dates too, the thought makes his stomach churn. He can't even begin to imagine how this makes Gintoki feel, especially with a certain suitor in the midst.
The loud bang as Kagura throws a few shopping bags on the floor brings him back from his thoughts.
“Toshiiiiii, how long till I can start sleeping here?” She scrunches her eyes in joy.
“Not too long, I still have to make sure these shelves are properly bolted so you can place your stuffed animals” he signals to the wall “Are you going to be okay here by yourself?” Hijikata asks, he spoils her more than he likes to admit, it all started back in the Yagyu arc.
“Are you kidding me Toshi?! I cannot wait! look at all the awesome stuff you got me!” she says as she spins around with a special edition Princess Elizabeth plush.
“It feels like home here, Toshi” she flashes him a wide smile.
“That it does, Kagura, that it does”