HijiGin - Bittersweet

Chapter 17

Hijikata sat in silence, regretting life and the only thing that you could hear in that moment were the soft snores from Gintoki and the peaceful chirping of sparrows. He had recalled last night's events and was now in shock as he stared blankly at his hands.

A noise beside him snapped him out of it. He turned and saw Gintoki mumble incoherently and snuggle closer to him. He was relieved that Gintoki was asleep, for he would have otherwise seen the pink dusting his cheeks.

As carefully as he could, he untangled himself from Gintoki's grasp, giving him a pillow to replace his body and tiptoed his way to the bathroom. When he was about to leave, however, he had realised that his clothes were still in the bedroom, so he tried to sneak back in without waking the perm head.

But things just never seem to go according to plan, do they?

As he crept in and picked his clothes up, which was thankfully right beside the door, he risked a glance at Gintoki and froze. It was like time had stopped for them.

Crimson red orbs stared back.

They had locked into a staring contest, neither willing to blink or look away first.

Finally, Hijikata couldn't hold his gaze steady and looked away.

"Uh...Do you remember what... happened last night?"

Hijikata asked the dreaded question that had been stuck in his head since waking up. He nervously picked at the hem of his sleeve, awaiting the other's answer.

However, he was met with nothing but silence.

Hijikata felt his stomach doing flips on him. He stole a glance at Gintoki and noticed that something was wrong.

Gintoki was hunched over, clutching his hair.

"O-Oi, Yorozuya!"

Hijikata shook him, but the other just buried deeper down.

Seeing how there's no choice, Hijikata forcefully pried Gintoki's hands from his hair and in the process, Gintoki's head shot up in instinct.

It was beet red.

"Hi-Hijikata...san..."

Hijikata wasn't even bothered by the fact that Gintoki had just added an honorific to his name, but rather the fact that a deep, scarlet shade had dusted his face.

While Gintoki was busy mumbling about something, Hijikata took in every, single detail he could find.

He noticed, of course, how Gintoki's breath was uneven, in a nervous manner, or how his ruby red orbs would dart frantically from left to right, or even how he was trembling slightly.

He took it all in, then settled in for an embrace.

It wasn't an intense embrace, but rather a comforting hug, like when you would comfort someone who was afraid of thunder.

It was...nice.

Gintoki had stilled in his embrace and, apart from a surprised, barely audible gasp, he didn't seem to try and push him away.

  They stayed like that for a few more minutes, enjoying each other's presence and warmth.

  Hijikata still wanted the answer to his earlier question, but he wasn't going to interrupt this moment.

  Well, it didn't last too long, as they were suddenly pounced onto by Sadaharu, who had crept in somehow through the open doorway, which Hijikata had left opened.

  Hijikata reluctantly lets go and watched the dog chew on Gintoki's head, while the latter was trying to get him to stop.

  Hijikata couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.