Gintama x Reader One Shots

Tsukuyo x Reader: Comfort

It had been a long day. Tsukuyo had spent the afternoon tutoring Seita, who was still staunchly refusing to learn his history. Now that the sun had set in the sky, she sat in her room, pipe in hand, staring out the window.

The door opened and closed, and she looked up to see a (H/C)-haired shape slumping over on the table. The shape let out an exhausted groan, and Tsukuyo blew the smoke from her pipe out the window.

"Rough day?"

The shape muttered in agreement.

While Tsukuyo couldn't see the person's face, she would recognize her anywhere. That person was (L/N) (F/N), a high-ranking officer of the Shinsengumi who'd met Tsukuyo through the Yorozuya. For the past few months, she'd been coming to Yoshiwara daily, pestering Tsukuyo with random questions, and staging various hug attacks Tsukuyo miraculously managed to avoid. Every time, she'd puff out her cheeks, and say the exact same thing.

"You're so mean, Tsukki!"

It wasn't that Tsukuyo didn't like (F/N)—it was the exact opposite—but affection wasn't something she was used to, and (F/N)'s behavior made her feel very, horribly awkward.

"Did you get into a scuffle today?" Tsukuyo asked, tapping her pipe against the windowsill. "You smell like smoke."

"Are you sure that's not your pipe you're smelling?" (F/N) muttered. "But yes, I did."

Tsukuyo hummed, watching as (F/N) raised her head, only to let it drop back onto the table. Normally, she was cheerful and energetic, with only brief moments of melodramatic exhaustion, but one look at her face told Tsukuyo that wasn't what this was. She had bags under her eyes, skin pulled taunt over her face like an ill-fitting mask, not to mention the patches of soot and dried blood covering her from head to toe.

"We were chasing a group of Joui rebels," (F/N) muttered, running a hand through her hair. "Hijikata-san was with me. We'd almost caught up to them when an explosion hit us, and the squad car flipped over."

Tsukuyo's eyes widened. "What? Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." (F/N) let out a groan. "Hijikata-san got the worst of it."

"I see..." Tsukuyo turned to look out the window. Comfort...she needed to provide comfort, but what should she do in this sort of situation?

"Do you think it was another ambush?" she asked, proceeding with caution.

"Oh, no!" (F/N) shook her head frantically. "It wasn't the rebels this time. It was Sougo."

Tsukuyo froze. "...Is that so..."

"I swear..." (F/N) heaved a sigh, flopping onto her back. "This is the third time this month he's gotten me caught up in his stupid feud—I almost broke my arm last time. I keep asking him not to get innocent civilians involved in his stupid grudge, but he just smirks and tells me I'm being too dramatic. I think he's targeting me now. Probably finds it funny how riled up I get." She let out a groan. "Goddammit...someday I'm gonna kill him for real, but for now, I need a nap."

(F/N) closed her eyes, and Tsukuyo took a hesitant step towards her, reaching out a hand. She wanted to touch her hair, pet it, comfort her, but something held her back, and she hesitated, drawing her hand back.

A second later, (F/N) opened her eyes. Her gaze flickered towards Tsukuyo's hand, but she didn't say anything, and sat up, rubbing her eyes. Tsukuyo had never seen her so exhausted before, and her mind leapt into a panic.

What do I do? I feel like I should do something, but what? How does one go about comforting someone they care for? Comfort...comfort...comfort...

Cheeks flushed, Tsukuyo turned her head away, and opened her arms.

"H—here..."

(F/N)'s eyes widened. Then she threw herself forward, straight into Tsukuyo's arms. Tsukuyo stumbled back at the impact, closing her arms around (F/N)'s waist. (F/N) squeezed her tight, burying her face in her chest. A giggle escaped her throat, and when Tsukuyo looked down, there was a familiar grin on (F/N)'s face, every hint of her earlier depression gone.

Tsukuyo gave her a reluctant pat on the back.

"This was your goal all along, wasn't it?"

(F/N) giggled. "Maybe...or maybe I really was sad. Will you cuddle me some more? It makes me very happy!"

Tsukuyo sighed, but in spite of herself, a smile came to her lips.

"Okay, just for a little while."

Author's Note: Hello, all. Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and if you did, please remember to vote. Thank you!

-Marguerite Partello