Work Text:
"Everything is magic, Hijikata-kun." Gintoki once claimed. Hijikata was tagging along with Gintoki and the kids one late spring day to explore the wood for the fresh ingredients for their potions. A warm breeze and the beautiful symphonies of golden oriole delivered them to the top of the mountain. The flock stays for the summer before migrating to warmer places in winter. Hijikata always misses their songs when it's cold.
As they reached the bed of flowers saturated with bright blooms, Gintoki mumbled that spells, potions and curses are the same for people—magic. They don't care how, as long as they can accomplish what they want. To bewitch another person, know which alternative is the best option or even tomorrow's weather. "How would I know about shit like that? I'm not an Oracle. Even if I were, I would use my exceptional talent to double it at pachinko." to which he retorted, "you should've put your kid's salary as a priority first!" . And Kagura fists his head deep into the ground.
Potions, concocting, and how to use them have always been his focus in teaching Shinpachi and Kagura. He thinks Gintoki likes to see them try, even with the rambunctious way Kagura grinds any roots or seeds. And Shinpachi's serious face, when he over-meticulously churned the liquid, changes to awe as kaleidoscopic colours emerge on the cauldron. The silly smile plaster on Gintoki when he thought nobody was looking. One by one, he introduced them to the elements. Each gradual in difficulty—Snake's heads, Ibis bone, Blood of Hestia, Hyrax blood, Wolfsbane and much more. It is essential to learn the procedure; one misplaced, one misstep is all it takes to kill someone accidentally. "Don't use Wolfsbane unless absolutely, definitively necessary" . Gintoki stated one day, eyes intense and solemn, far away from his usual dead fish ones. Hijikata wasn't the one for whom this order was intended, yet he could see how tense Gintoki was, both hands set on the kids' shoulders. A command without a wiggle room. To have his regular dopey routine broken by such authority—
"These are the only things you need to learn while chanting and dancing naked under the moon is just a plus." So Gintoki taught after they finished watching a Phoenix being reborn. Another spectacular event Hijikata'll get if he spends time with the three. It was captivating and esoteric for him. The tale stated that only once every five hundred years a Pheonix is seen, yet Gintoki could find one in those rare years. How lucky. They watched as the bird's frail body succumbed to its old age. Then, gradually, a tiny new chick came wriggling from under the heaps of scented plants and branches in the nest. Kagura and Shinpachi were so giddy beside him. Her hands dangled on his right elbow, squeezing his upper arm whenever the chick chirped. And Shinpachi's were clasped in front of his chest. He could see they were trying their best not to extend and hold the newborn, and he appreciated their resolution.
He discovered Gintoki was beaming beautifully at him, staring at his interaction with the kids instead of the rebirth.
"What a horrible thing to say, Gin-san. The gods will punish you, you know." Shinpachi huffed.
"The gods don't care, Patsuan. They're too busy. Do you think they'd listen to everything we're saying? Like some nosy mothers gossiping in the market? Wait, actually, that does sound like something they'd do."
"Gin-chan, I don't want to be punished by doing a naked dance under the moon!"
"Don't worry, Kagura! I'll do it for you." Gintoki answered, his hand thumping his chest proudly.
"You both are so ridiculous." Hijikata laughed, amused.
From their early encounter, these witches always run into trouble. And in cases that mainly include the Shinsengumi. For the love of all gods, he can't stop them from intervening in the officers' business. Witchcraft itself is not something one can flaunt front and centre to the people, let alone authorities. He is aware that he is complicit, jeopardising his position in the politeia as vice-chief. But he knows that even Kondo himself won't bring them to the court to be judged by the jury, which would be futile now that he muses. Those juries are the people these three had saved.
But Hijikata, as the police, still needed to keep his sanity. So sometimes, he would have to arrest them. Nonetheless, he didn't expect them to show up in his headquarters way too frequent. Every new arrest brought up new bizarre cases, and often he didn't know how to handle them. As a result, the words ' case by case' has lost their meaning to him.
Being wary has been stored deep in a chest in his head, open only occasionally as an occupational hazard. Those three have done things for him in 'self-sacrificial' ways. He hates it. Of course, he does. He didn't and never will desire them to ever do that for him or anyone. But in them, he sees the flattering perspective of the gods. Of how affection and sacrifices can make one feel addictively holy. Particularly that man, Sakata Gintoki—the one who keeps coming into his dream night after night. "Did you know that dreams are a part of magic, Divination, Hijikata-kun? They are abstract and unknown. And most people can't help but dissect them. Morpheus' way, the god of the dreams, to communicate to us. Maybe he tried to tell you something, hmm?" He said one night after Hijikata, drunk from wine, confessed. Warm, lithe fingers settled on his jaw. "Maybe it means you need to stop haunting me. I don't need divination to know that," he answered whilst drunkenly (he kept telling himself) planting a kiss on Gintoki's lips. Hoping this seed would root deep in him as much as in Hijikata.
Shinpachi once said, "Why did I go and ask to be Gin-san's apprentice? I don't know, but he came and crashed into my life like my sister's omelette. I despise it yet can't help to cherish it." Hijikata felt terrible for this wonderful boy. But he could see the appeal of learning witchcraft, especially in how Gintoki conducts his life. Not too much-selling snake oil and more towards helping others.
Magic, Gods and Monsters are factual in this realm. He knows that, and he'd witnessed it numerously before. In one case, his troop was contacted of a werewolf who had disturbed a family, his own family, and he wanted to turn them into his pack. At first, it seemed like a case of wild animals eating their herd. Sheep and chicken were mauled and drained of their flesh and blood. But more and more events occur in the mean more than that. Their crops were torn from their roots, a vast patch of land was dug, and their excellent harvests were gone. This was an offence worth taking to the jury. Someone's livelihood and guarantee of tomorrow's meal are taken away. But what are the chances that it was the father who did this?
Whereas that's the thing with human and animalistic nature , isn't it? Sometimes, one cannot fathom witnessing someone live in a way different from them—or how lonely his life will be without his family. But, in this desolate-egotistical mindset, the werewolf almost turned his family without their consent. After all, they wouldn't ask for the witches' help if they desired to.
"But, in those cases where people's lives are the pawns in someone else's game, and we can help. I can't help to feel proud as Gin-san's apprentice," Shinpachi added.
That case ended with Kagura punching the father into oblivion. And he is ashamed to admit that he felt a little fire burning inside of him, prideful of her words.
"I don't fucking care if you're going to live bare ass scraping dirt! It's your own life, do whatever you want. But Gin-chan said the people in this world are free...
If you want to be their father," a pause, "learn to get along! And the least you could do is ask goddamnit! What's so hard about it? HUH?! You've chosen yours. Let them choose their own life!"
"Gin-chan, I'm tired." Kagura yawns. She had fallen a few steps behind them and was lumpily staggering.
It has gotten dark without him realising it. His daydreaming must've been one of the results of his fatigue—the journey from the mountain where the Phoenix was to their house is quite far. Gintoki looks at Kagura exasperatedly while scratching his neck. "Fine, I'll carry you just until that intersection." He pointed to it.
But at some point, Hijikata had put Shinpachi on his back too. And in the period on their way home, Gintoki never stopped complaining. Still, they had forgotten how many intersections they'd passed.
"Gin-san, you are a human form of a sloth, a personification of idiotic ideas, a wretched, foul creature not even Tartarus is willing to welcome. Disgustin-"
"Shinpachi! I'll have you know I won't take it easy on you. So what? So what? Do you want to fight?"
"This was your fault, to begin with!" Kagura yells at Gintoki's ears, causing the man to yelp and close them with his hands. Kagura is so furious right now, face beet red and knuckles tightly closed in front of her face. And Hijikata knows why. She had to miss her playtime with her friends, and she's been telling him for the whole week.
This morning, a man had come to Hijikata's office. He revealed his dick, all red and sore from a potion he had ordered from the witch.
"Toshi! I disagree that it's my fault or Shinpachi's! Gin-chan was the one who sold it to him!"
"Who are you calling Toshi!"
"Yeah, Hijikata-san! We already told him that it was not a good idea! But he just went ahead without us knowing."
"Brats! You sold me out that fast, huh? Just wait. The next time a vampire attacks you, I won't do shit. Better yet. I will give your blood to them on a silver platter."
"Okay, shut up, all of you!" His brows are furrowed to the point of headache if he keeps at it. "Okay, okay. Two people's testimonies showed new evidence. So both of you, go wait outside."
"Yeay! Thank you, Toshi!" Kagura leapt forward to hug him, and he took it for a minute, just enough for a slight smile to worm on his face. Then he pushed her gently.
"I said, wait, okay! I'd need someone to keep this one in check after this."
"I don't need a babysitter!" the baby-man whined.
Kagura sent one last kick to Gintoki's shin before leaving the room. Now that he is left alone with Gintoki, who knows how this will go. Facing the man, he begins the questioning.
"We've got a report that said you gave them a freaking concoction of hot oil and pepper for some kind of aphrodisiac? Or love potion? What the fuck? And then he had to put it on his dick. What the fuck, no seriously, what the fuck?"
"Come on, Oh, my Vice-Chief! Can you give me a chance? I just gave him what he asked for. But, really, if you want, go ahead and take a lookie here. I've learned everything from it." Gintoki handed him papyrus sheets stacked atop another. Creative, he thought—this collection of papyrus sheets is bound with strings on its side—a new form of assembling it, not in a bookrolls form he usually sees. The earlier pages are more worn out than the latter, so he must've rebound them several times. Coffee and other oily based food stains can be seen, and Hijikata tries his best to avoid touching them.
Despite that, he can't say that it wasn't intriguing. Every page is filled with chicken scrawny handwritten recipes, spells, and rules. It is very detailed and complex. Some he didn't know could be used for others. And the product in question is an actual aphrodisiac.
"What is this? Are you for real?"
"Of course I am."
"Fuck."
"Yep, it's for fucking."
"That's not what I meant."
"Oh, so you are an old-school kind of guy, Hijikata-kun? Are you asking me on a date first?"
"Okay, calm down. " Hijikata clears his throat. Ignoring the comment Gintoki made and the scalding rising temperature on his face. "Sakata, first of all, how could you learn or even read from this? Second, why did you even give him this? Don't you ever try your stuff?"
"Gin-san has a good system! He knows where is what and what is what. So back of Oogushi-kun! Also," he draws closer to Hijikata, breathing into his ear. "I never needed a love potion. Do you want to find out?"
"Oh yeah? How about you start by writing people's real names? So you'll really know who is who. And stop flirting. It's not going to get you out of this trouble."
"Too complicated." He leans back into his chair. "I'll even agree to the potions being outrageous, but writing people's names? No, not in my book. Here's my schedule if you want to change your mind." He pushed a piece of paper across the table.
"Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with you? And yes, a confession! Jail time for you!" He eyed the paper, then the man. Back to the paper, back to the man. It totals to ten times of him shifting his eyes. It gave him chronic eyestrain and curiosity. Who knows what the man does other than lazying around in his office? Nothing, probably, or maybe that's why he needs a date.
"Wait, wait! Okay, hear me out, officer." he bats his eyelashes. He must've sensed his discomfort. And trying to one-up his last ridiculous stunts. "I can give you something you want, anything. " Now, he is wiggling his eyebrows. Hijikata does not understand this person. What more can this good for nothing do other than to irk him and send his heart palpating.
"Come on! Stop messing around. Just tell me why."
"I told you! It's what the man wanted and what I have learned!"
"Gintoki," the name earned him a stun, "please. Tell me."
He mulls over in his head, eyes sharply on Hijikata's. The hands on his lap are busy moving, his left thumb and index finger peeling the loose hangnail on his right thumb. Hijikata wants to jump over the desk to stop him.
"Sometimes... Humans can't distinguish between love and lust. Initially, what that man asked for had something to do with 'Agonistic spells' , which can cause 'agony' to the victim." Then, he started to pick on his other thumb. "this spell evokes its power from a demon, and then the victim would be left with nothing on her mind other than that man. Sometimes they wouldn't eat or drink. So why would I do that? For something as minuscule as... fucking?" he didn't say falling in love.
"I see." Hijikata exhales, spent from this conversation alone. His body felt like there were thousands of boulders hanging on his back. "I guess. Good thing he chose to try it himself at home before going to her place." that brought a laugh from Gintoki.
"Yeah, I told him that."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear any confession."
"... thanks."
"Yeah"
"..."
"..."
"So... Do you have anything to do tonight?"
Gintoki had heard from Kondo of Hijikata's birthday. In one of their so-called 'meet up,' which only consists of Kondo begging him for a love potion and him rejecting (courtesy of Shinpachi).
"Did you make all of this?" Hijikata asked as soon as he came through the door. Even before he arrives at the table, eyes glittering at the various assortments of gorgeous foods. It even invited Gintoki's stomach to rumble despite the fact that he cooked them. Gintoki was worried, almost nauseous. He had expected Hijikata to deny it when he asked him to come. All those rambling in the interrogation room resulted from days of postponing the invitation and added by jerk customer's case. They have been in this long dance of push and pull—light steps on the air, wondering where to land. A kiss was his only reward once.
"Not all of it. The kids helped." he lied.
"I should thank them."
"You can do it later. Come on, sit."
Gintoki poured the bottle of wine onto his glass. The smell was fragrant when he brought it to his mouth. It's a mature red wine with crushed yellow camomile, he explained. The main course is a grilled beef skewered, side with an arugula salad with beans, chopped eggs, nuts and steamed carrot. Then a dessert of steamed apple and strawberries dipped in aniseed. It was topped with a sauce mix of honey and crushed pine seeds.
"What the hell. Just be a chef or something. Change your profession." Hijikata exhaled after finishing the dessert. Gintoki knows it was too sweet for him. But he knows the stunningly crude man won't deny it to such an extent, maybe because he lied about who made them. Hijikata loves his kids, and he loves him more for that.
"Why would I do that? Gin-san's life is nice as it is."
"Wouldn't it be easier? It's not like you're going to get customers every day."
"I like doing this rather than being a tax thief."
"Bastard, rather than being a lazy unemployed so-called herbologist."
"Since we're being honest here, herbologist is not my actually my occupation. It's... a witch!"
"Ah, no wonder you are useless."
"Hey! Apologise right now! Apologise to Gin-san!"
"Stupid, it's my birthday. So I can say what I want."
"You're right!" Gintoki suddenly stands, envigorated from their banter. He runs back from his room with something in his hand. "Hijikata, happy birthday!"
"It's... Penis...es?" Hijikata stares. Gintoki understands he'll be confused, but he didn't know the man would react this bewildered.
"Oh my god Hijikata-kun. How more sacrilegious can you be," He laughs "don't you know the god Facinus?"
"But... Penis?"
"It's his form."
"Penis?"
"Stupid V-bang, say penis one more time. I fucking dare you!"
"Hey, shut up! Look at it! Look at it! It's a giant penis with small penises around it!! It screams penis even before I open my mouth! It reaches the finish line with its head before I can even start the race. It penises its penis before I penis the penis!" The amulet has one central body, which is in the form of a dick, then on its top attached a winged smaller dick. Oh, also, two more dicks on as its tail and a dick... as its dick.
"I get it! I get it!"
The actual form of Facinus is really a male's genitalia. He is a god of fertility and good health. That's why Gintoki gave it to Hijikata. An amulet, protection for life. But that doesn't stop them from bursting into tears. Their belly was in stitches as they guffawed louder and louder. Finally, Gintoki resorts to banging his fist on the table, and Hijikata throws his body back in his seat. Then his body swung way too the right and fell head-on from the chair, laughter still heard from the fallen man. Gintoki, being the excellent house owner, laughs louder first before helping him back up.
His cheeks were taut, tired and exhausted. Dry throat, yet he feels rejuvenated. They sat on the floor for a moment after Gintoki helped Hijikata. Eyes staring at each other, traces of their laughter still present on their face. Gintoki feels like he'd forgotten how to frown. Then, suddenly, various sounds came from outside.
"Shhh," Gintoki beckons. His index finger stood in front of his mouth, eyes to the side, telling him to listen.
"What happened?" Hijikata whispers.
"Hecate", he smiles.
The howling of dogs is loudly heard outside, and no other sounds can be found. Even crickets decided to mum. Gintoki remembers the words of his teacher. It is said that these howls are the roar of deceased dogs. They came in the night when Hecate decided to walk amongst the mortal—welcoming her as she strides—then departing this land with her to her domain.
Hecate herself is a virgin goddess in the underworld. But amongst the witches, she is called the divine witch—goddess of witchcraft, the moon, and necromancy. Albeit the witches' familiar is widely known to be cats, Hecate herself prefers dogs. Gintoki doesn't mind worshipping her. Such a god is rare in this world where stories of vindictive gods are spread. For example, the goddess Hera cursed Zeus' victims left and right because her husband decided to be an infidel and a rapist. But Hecate is different. She had helped both mortals and gods, never basing her judgement on their beings, only on the extent of one's misdeeds. Maybe it's due to her working underworld, a guide for the restless ghosts. So many will definitely pour their heart out at her, he thought.
Gintoki smiles, eyes crammed with mischievous glints.
"Come in" he takes Hijikata's hand and pulls him towards the bedroom. Then fastly paced onto the bed and pushed Hijikata down before plopping atop him.
"What are you doing?" Hijikata's heart on Gintoki's palm betrayed his calm exterior. Whatever howl was outside seemed to echo inside his head. The hand that Gintoki gripped never let go. And he can feel the cold sweat bleed from him.
"It is said. You need to hide under the bedcovers when she comes."
"That so? Do you have to be on top of me?"
"Just a precaution."
"Good defence."
Hijikata settles his left hand on Gintoki's hips. His right finds a way to his face. He should see the expectation in Gintoki's face as he licks his lips before leaning down. And Hijikata welcomes him wholly and devoutly.
His hand travels up to Hijikata's shoulders, undressing him. The bare skin touches hot under his fingers and caress. He can feel Hijikata shudders when he reaches sensitive points on his neck—eliciting moans and rougher movement from the man underneath him. Gintoki understands why Cupid, the god of love, uses a bow and arrows. Love in the trait is never always tender. It can be painfully full of suffering, something one can feel physically. And it flares everywhere, like a pierced untreated wound. It would wear and get worst before it got better. Until someone takes the plunge to pursue their love or, in some cases, leave it be until one dies.
That was what he lived daily. To see this man under the bright sun, unable to touch or understand, then professing to Hecate under the shadowy moon. He didn't care. His life as a witch has always been full of if . If this spell doesn't work, try another. If this potion failed, make another. So he was satisfied with quarrelling on the streets, shouting curses underlying with blessings.
Though he later learned Hijikata was never if .
Every option he made never led to the one he wanted. If he avoids talking to Hijikata, when else can he do so? If he does talk, what else can he do to sate his hunger? If he let go, would he know if Hijikata felt the same?
Love like his was never tender. The things he'd done and will do for his soul, and he knows Hijikata is the same for the Shinsengumi. Their expression of love can never fit in any library's wide section of tenderness. So he was ready to live the way he is, without becoming aware of Cupid or Psyche—Cupid's bride and the goddess of the soul. But perhaps one can't run away from destiny.
There was no more howling outside, and they both stopped. Eyes are staring at one another, hunger reflected in both. Hijikata's grip on Gintoki's waist is tighter every minute passes.
"It appears she's gone," Hijikata said.
"Yeah", Gintoki sits upwards. He grinds his crotch to Hijikata's.
Hijikata chased him, landing his hands on Gintoki's ass, squeezing them open and earning a grunt from him. They tangle again in a rush of lengthy kisses, breathing hard through the nose as if separating will cut their lifeline. Gintoki doesn't realise how much he wanted this, breathless from want and longing, eyes watering and hands trembling. But maybe dying of suffocation wasn't the best idea.
"If I die, I'll haunt you, I swear to god." he managed to say.
Hijikata only hums before going back to devouring him. Gintoki had to strengthen his grasp on Hijikata's shoulder for him to stop. It'll probably sting and leave red lines from the drawing of his nails tomorrow, and Gintoki doesn't care. On the contrary, the image arouses him even more, the bare canvas of Hijikata's skin, painted with the remnants of their activities, bolding his moves. He yanks the man's hair away, making Hijikata faces upwards to him. He repeatedly leans closer, chasing, and Gintoki always backs further away. He smirks sadistically, seeing the rarely desperate Hijikata, but his win doesn't last very long. Hijikata inserts a finger inside him, probing further in, and Gintoki's hand on his hair loses its strength.
"Fuck."
"Where?" Hijikata asks, a hand rummage on the bedside. Why is he so sure that's where Gintoki is storing his lube? Though he wasn't wrong, he just doesn't like when Hijikata is right.
"Here", he gives him the scented oil, he prepared.
Hijikata pulls his finger from Gintoki and then covers them with the oil. Gintoki dazedly watches as he slowly brings his hand back to his ass.
"Gintoki", Hijikata calls. He turns his head. Hijikata asked him if he was okay.
"Mmm, yeah."
Hijikata pulls him by the waist and lifts his upper body to rest on his shoulder. Gintoki resigns all his weight, body slack and tense simultaneously. Hijikata's legs between his knees widen, creating more access to reach. Gintoki senses an electric shock he'd never felt before when he puts a finger in. Gradually, he goes deeper and moves bolder with every moan Gintoki lets out. His thrust is concentrated, getting closer and closer to the buds of his pleasure, edging Gintoki to want more. Then he puts another finger, another pace faster, faster and more focused. Gintoki can't think and breathe. Heat spreads from his heart to the tip of his toes, burning him so well.
Hijikata never stops when he comes, only slowing down—hunting down his prostate, even though it goes deeper inside. Gintoki had never felt so overwhelmed with pleasure this way. An incomprehensible disorienting thought process passed through. At this moment, he doesn't even know what he wants. The pleasure is too intense, too great, but he doesn't desire it to end.
He was unaware of how long he was in that state. A series of moans sound from his wide mouth. He realised it ended when he saw the pool of drools around a deep bite mark on Hijikata's shoulder.
"'m sorry..." He mumbles as he mindlessly wipes it.
"It's fine", the calm tone really off balance with his haste demeanour. Instantly pushing Gintoki to the bed and caging him under, both hands resting beside his face. He closed in again, kissing him lazily. Gintoki knows he is not the luckiest person, but he finds himself in a new form of torture. To see Hijikata's intense love and beautiful sharp gaze delivered him to a deserted island—cursed and unsatiated. He slowly pushes his dick inside, lets gintoki adjusts, feels his breath calm down, and moves gradually. Unfortunately, his oversensitive nerves don't die down, already burning Gintoki the second time.
"Fuck fuck fuck." All he could say. His eyes are tightly shut, leaving him blind and drowning in the sensation. A lifeboat away on the other island, leaving him stranded in the waves of pleasure, mocking Gintoki with its ever-present. Hijikata goes faster, aiming at his prostate again, too accurate for his liking.
He can feel Hijikata close to his finish. So erratically dancing inside him, in his daze, opening his eyes. Gintoki sees him so ravishing even at such a time. Bright red heat blushed his face and shoulders. The dark hair damps and sticks to his forehead. Incredible blue eyes remind him of the sea once again. Oh, Poseidon, let me live, he thought. Let me live to love this man for every cycle of my life.
He pulls out soon after coming on Gintoki's stomach. Their breaths echo in the quiet room, twisting and turning into the air. He discovers Gintoki's not done yet, so he reaches forward, taking his length in his palm.
"Wa- wait."
"It's okay." He responded, whispering close to his ears and creeping downward to his chest. He flicks the rising buds with his left hand, testing the water with a twist. Gintoki grunts low and drops an arm on his eyes, shielding him from the ardent gaze of Hijikata. He licks his right nipple rhythmically, steady constant beat on his body. Jolts of electricity are bringing him to a close once more. Hijikata changes his aim to the next bud, repeatedly pulling it by the tip, never too harsh. His thumb is on the tip of Gintoki's dick, applying their earlier cum all over. Greasing him to pump easier. He doesn't know how, but he can feel the heat spread and slowly gather together under his belly. In a couple of pumps, he came.
"Sorry", Hijikata sighs. His face reddens when Gintoki realises he's hard again. Hijikata must have liked whatever it was he saw when serving Gintoki. He moves away to stand up. To finish it himself in the toilet, he said. Gintoki smirks. Such a stupid man.
"Why are you shy all of a sudden now?" He taunts. Forcing his strained, hypersensitive body to move, slowly pushing Hijikata on the bed. "Don't you want me?" He sat on Hijikata's lap, back to their original position. A snake eating its own tail, the image of Ouroboros conjured in his mind. Maybe this was his curse, to have every step of his life wired to his knowledge as a witch. Yet the Ourobouros itself is not a curse, protection, an idea that a beginning will grow after an end. Would it lend its power to Gintoki? So he can build a new path in his life with Hijikata in it.
"Fuck", Hijikata swears, back to digging his fingers into Gintoki's hips. Their last act proceeds rougher than before, sporadic, and beastly.
When they're done, they lay side by side under the cover. Hijikata's hand find its way to wrap around Gintoki's waist, his chest to Gintoki's back. He feels his body spent and satisfied. But his heart is only half-full.
"Hijikata", Maybe he can try again. To build a bridge for Hijikata to pass through, rather than tiptoeing in a suspended rope.
"Gintoki," but Hijikata interjects, "let's... Let's have dinner with the kids tomorrow." his eyes fidget, "I want to introduce myself to them officially. "
Or maybe his journey to pursue ends here—he begins his pilgrimage to love right here, right now, with this man.