Love For A Samurai [Gintama: Gintoki x Reader]

Steps Forward

Gintoki still limp, with his muscular arm draped over your shoulder, you were struggling to keep him, along with yourself, upright while ascending the shotty looking spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever.

"Gin," you cry out "I'm exhausted, I need to set you down for a second".

Gently, you set the drugged samurai down on a step, being sure not to have his head land on one of its sharper edges as he flopped over the stairs like a rag-doll.

Now uncomfortably laying on the bumpy metal surface, Gin couldn't bring himself to say anything. He wanted to save any little strength he had left for whatever was to come once they got to the top.

You sat beside him, keeping hold of his collar, making sure Gin didn't start sliding back down all that way you claimed. And, as soon as your legs were relieved of holding up your own weight, you couldn't help but start to silently cry.

Upon hearing your occasional sniffle as he glanced at the back of your head, Gin's concerns grew. He recalled how much you had struggled to speak about your past, but here you were, pretty much forced to relive it. Not to mention your son— your whole world— was taken from you, and the whole rescue mission to get him back was filled with uncertainty. Gin wondered why you hadn't been crying this whole time.

"We'll find him," Gin assured, a scratch in his voice.

You gulped, attempting to swallow the frog in your throat "It just seems so hopeless, Gintoki".

"You made it this far, you can't give up now-"

"I'm not giving up! I would never give up! Taro needs me!" you were balling at this point. Shouting, your voice echoing throughout the stairway "I'm just so scared of failing: What if I can't do it? I'm already too tired to keep walking; how can I save my son if I'm not even strong enough to do that?"

Gin couldn't help but chuckle at your naïveté.

"What's so funny?" you rubbed your eyes of its tears.

"Y/N, you have always been strong, I think you're even stronger now then when we first met," he admired, eyes softly closed.

"We haven't spoke in five years, how could you be so sure?"

"That's exactly why I'm sure," Gintoki released a big sigh "Remember when you took me to that festival in your village, and that guy-Kenta called you a whore and made you cry?"

You sniffled once more, looking away as you rubbed your nose "That's not proving your case, Gintoki".

"It is, think about it: just the mere reminder of you being a courtezan broke you. But now, look at us, we're in Yoshiwara, surrounded by things from your past. Sure you're crying now, but we've been here for hours! Back then, you'd be worse off than how you are now".

You were lost for words; Gin was right. You weren't sure if it was because of time, or if it was your maternal instincts, but if you were back in this place five years ago, you would be an awful mess.

"Also, if I may add-" Gin interrupts your thoughts "you also have a strong samurai accompanying you".

You glance back at him, a small smirk on your face "Yeah, so strong, but you can't even walk!"