HijiGin - Bittersweet

Chapter 25 (End)

  Hijikata woke up to an empty bed, no traces of lingering warmth to be found by his side where Gintoki had slept last night. He dismissed it as nothing, figuring that his boyfriend probably just went to the bathroom or something.

  Yawning, he stretched his body as he slowly sat up. He saw a piece of paper next to him and curiously picked it up. It read:

  Hijikata, 

  I know that you will probably be extremely disappointed in me after reading this, but you have to understand. I may not be the same man you fell for, but you're still the very same person that stole my heart twice. 

  I know for certain that you would do anything for my happiness, and that is why I am doing the same. You helped me through my darkest hours when I had allowed no one to witness. You gave me hope when I thought all that awaited for me was despair.

  I cannot be more thankful for your existence, which is why I beg of you to not come after me.

  Gintoki Sakata

  Hijikata's hands trembled as his heart dropped. He didn't want to believe what he had just read, wished that it was all just a sick prank that he could smack Gintoki in the head for later. 

  But it wasn't, and that was what crushed him. 

  Grabbing his jacket and sword hurriedly while fumbling his shirt buttons, Hijikata ran out the door and to where it all first began. He ran as fast as his legs would allow, exerting himself as he began to pant. 

  His eyes darted from place to place, noticing the tranquillity of the streets as dawn had just begun to break. He sees places where he'd shared memories with Gintoki, ones from long ago and some from recent times. 

  Hijikata stumbles a bit but he never stops, can't. Not in this situation where every minute and second could influence the outcome. After what seemed like forever, Hijikata reached the docks where Gintoki was first found out of control. 

  He allowed himself a short break as he scanned his surroundings for signs of life. He wandered around the large shipping containers, all senses searching. 

  HIjikata's ears perked up when he heard voices. He took quiet steps closer as he tried to pinpoint exactly where they came from. As he neared them, he could distinguish that they were two voices from the same man.

  Turning the corner, Hijikata was greeted by Gintoki and his clone engaged in battle. Both men had ignored him if they did notice the new presence as they favoured battling one another. Hijikata gripped his own sword and unsheathed it, the blade glinting in the early morning sun. 

  What he didn't expect was to see Gintoki stabbed in the abdomen. His eyes widen as he sprints towards the hunched figure, calling his name in desperation. He could see the blood seeping from his wound and bit his lip in frustration, knowing he can't do much to relieve Gintoki of his suffering.

  "My, my. If it isn't Hijikata Toshiro himself." Hijikata turns to the clone and stands up protectively in front of Gintoki. 

  "It's you again." 

  "It is indeed." Cherry red lips curled into a smile. Taking a closer look, Hijikata couldn't identify the similarities and differences between the clone and the real Gintoki. What shocked him more was the fact that he couldn't help but see Gintoki in him. 

  Hijikata decides to wager, throwing down his sword and leaving himself completely unarmed. The clone arches an eyebrow as if to say 'Are you insane' but keeps his mouth shut. It was now or never for Hijikata now.

  "I won't fight you," Hijikata declares, looking into the clone's eyes. "I just want to talk." 

  "Hm, Let's say that I'll go against my better judgement and trust that you're being sincere," The clone drawls. "What do you get out of this?" Hijikata could see that this is his one chance at talking it out, so he took it.

  "What are you trying to achieve by all this bloodshed and violence?" Hijikata inquires in a neutral tone, a genuine question. The clone was silent for a few moments as he stared at Hijikata.

  "Nothing." He finally admitted as an almost sad smile paints his face if Hijikata didn't know him any better. The answer was not what he had been expecting, and somehow Hijikata felt something other than bloodlust and evil within the soul before him.

  "One more thing...how much of Gintoki's thoughts and feeling do you share and feel?" The clone was surprised at the question as he tried to determine whether or not Hijikata was hiding anything under his sleeves.

  "Everything he knows I know too. After all, I am only a mere clone." The sad smile is back, and perhaps Hijikata hadn't seen wrong. He took small steps forward, then larger before coming to a stop before him. He reaches a hand forward and cups his cheeks, Gintoki's cheeks.

  "Aren't you just afraid of loneliness? Abandonment?" Hijikata has a knowing look on his face as he realises the truth. The clone was just a shard of Gintoki...is Gintoki. 

  "...How did you know?" A crack in the facade finally as ruby red eyes peered into Hijikata's own ebony black ones. Within those eyes contain the deep, buried sadness and grief Hijikata had seen in Gintoki's all the time.

  "What a shit clone, can't you identify feelings of love?" An unexpected voice joined their conversation as they both turned, surprised at Gintoki. He smirked at Hijikata, pain still evident, then looked back with all the seriousness he could muster at his clone. "This mayonnaise addict has got me falling head over heels for his stupid ass, don't you feel it, too?" 

  "I..." The clone looked at Hijikata, his eyes glistened. "I can." As the clone let go of his malice and set upon a small, genuine smile, a single tear ran down his cheek. The trio shared a peaceful moment together before the clone approached Gintoki and knelt down before him.

  "I'll return your memories." Gintoki nodded, and relief flooded Hijikata. "Thank you, Hijikata." They locked eyes for a brief moment and the clone bumped foreheads with Gintoki before disappearing with a bright flash of light.

  Gintoki's memories slowly came back as a pleasant buzz filled his head. He needed a few moments to calm himself because the next thing he knew he had thrown himself into Hijikata. This action, of course, startled the latter as a string of curses could be heard.

  "Careful! You're gonna aggravate your inju...Hey, what's wrong with you?" Hijikata held a puzzled expression when Gintoki latched on like a baby koala. When he finally let go, his face was stained with tears, a bubbly laugh ripped from his throat.

  "You dork, my memories! T-They're back, Hijikata...they're finally back." Hijikata couldn't believe his ears and stiffened up, his own eyes now prickling with tears. When he finally snapped out of it he claimed Gintoki's lips in a passionate kiss.

  You've kept me waiting, idiot.

---

 I just want to say that I am immensely thankful for all y'all readers who have shown support for this story in the form of comments, likes and adding this fic to your reading lists. This has been quite the long ride from 2015 December (omg it took me three years to finish writing this lmao) and I must say I have been the most inconsistent author ever. I apologize for the long, agonizing wait and once again thank you all for reading my first ever piece of fanfiction!

                                                                                     

This Chapter Is Dedicated To My Good Friend Kelly, Who Provided Constant Inspiration And Support For My Story.