Standard disclaimer applies

Stand firm rather than give in to peer pressure

Otose took a long drag from her cigarette before approaching the lone man sitting at the corner of her counter.

"How about you stop running away and embrace those feelings?" she said. Apathetic red eyes looked at her. "What are you talking about, old hag? Feelings? I always embrace cream pie fillings."

Otose ignored his poor attempt on joking and pressed on stubbornly. "This old hag can see past your charade. You're so painful to watch." When Gintoki did not say anything but hung his head, she continued. "Even if the feeling is mutual, women wants to be reassured."

"She's not a woman. She's half-gorilla… and half-monster too." Otose smirked a little. At least, Gintoki was beginning to be honest. "And she deserves better."

Yes, Tae deserved better. A guy like him would only bring too many troubles. He looked at his hands and clenched them in fists. His hands were too tainted with blood that he was certain he could never hold someone as innocent as Tae. And his past… his past was dark and haunting. He had so many enemies and if they found out about Tae, he knew they would take advantage of her to bend him to their will. He shuddered at the thought of what Takasugi could do to her. He doubt he could control the demon within him if something bad would happen to her because of him. No, he could not drag her into his mess. He should not let her get involved.

Otose sighed and took a sip from her glass. With motherly affection in her eyes, she said, "Everybody deserves to be happy, Gintoki. Even someone like you."

"I'm happy," Gintoki mumbled. Yes, he was happy to see her. She did not need to be his to make him happy. Having her in his life, regardless of how she treat him, was enough.

"I don't mean that kind of happiness," Otose snapped. She sighed and dropped something on the table. "Instead of drinking yourself to oblivion, return this to Otae for me, will you?"

Gintoki looked at the books and then looked at the old hag. He was about to refuse but she added, "If you do, you won't have to pay me for the next three months."

He clucked his tongue. "I'll hold you to your words, old hag." Then his tone became defensive, "And I'm not going there because I want to see her! I'm going there because of these!" He slapped his hand on the books. "These! You hear me?"

Otose waved her hand. "Go before I change my mind about the rent." Gintoki immediately disappeared. Otose took another drag.

xX0Xx

Tae opened the back door of the Snack Smile club and stopped when she saw Gintoki. "Gin-san, what are you doing here?" she asked, her heart beating so fast, it was a miracle her voice did not come out a bit breathless.

"The old hag said to return these," he replied and casually tossed the books to Tae's direction.

Tae was distracted that she did not catch the books. To be exact, he threw all the books at the same time, she could not decide which one to catch first. She looked at the books lying on her feet. Funny, she did not own those books and even if she did, she would not lend it to Otose. They were not that familiar with each other. She picked one and threw it right into Gintoki's face. "Is that how you return things?" she demanded.

"Otae's guy," Oryou who also exited the club after Tae, said. "It's nice to see you." She looked at Tae. "Does that mean you're not going with us to that place?"

Gintoki waved his hand dismissively. "I just came to run an errand for an old hag. I'm not here to pick her up and I'm about to leave anyway."

Noticing Tae's disappointed look, Oryou said, "But you can come with us. Otae will probably get drunk. She won't listen to us if we stop her but if it's you…"

The rest of the girls nodded in agreement. Tae continued staring at her feet. Gintoki looked at them indifferently. What the hell is this? Some high school match making?

"And she needs someone to accompany her home," Oryou pressed on. "You know how dangerous Kabuki district is especially during the night."

What's with these guys?

Once again, the other girls nodded in agreement in a heart beat. They were beginning to annoy him so bad that the idea of snapping their necks was getting more and more tempting. He stared at them. They all stared back at him like some villain in a cheap horror film.

He scratched the bridge of his nose, nervous. He would never admit that he was sweating bullets under those heavy stares. "Isn't this a girls-only night out?" he asked, trying to reason out with them. He swore that he would kill himself before he would changed into Paako for these girls. "I'm a guy so I…" he trailed off. Their stare was slowly overwhelming him until he snapped. "Fine!" he said.

The girls mumbled something about Otae's boyfriend. Gintoki pretended that being referred as Tae's boyfriend did not send ripples of happiness in his destitute soul. He rubbed the back of his head. "Oryou, is it? I'm not her boyfriend."

Unfortunately, Oryou and the rest of the girls had already started walking and ignoring him, leaving him with Tae. He grumbled about women and their penchant for selective hearing.

"Becoming my boyfriend… is it that bad of an idea?" Tae asked quietly while she continued to stare ahead. She was too embarrassed to look at the man walking beside her.

Gintoki took a sideway glance at her. Why was she asking such tricky question now of all times? Talk about bad timing. Was she able to sense his need of draping his arm around her and pulling her close? Was that the reason?

If he would say no, she would consider it an insult and would punch the daylight out of him. If he would say yes, she might consider it as flirting and he would still end up being a punching bag. Tough luck.

"Why do you want to know?"

He acted like understanding dawned on him. "Oh! I see." He regarded her like how a parent would when his child was close to walking down the path of evil. "You're giving into peer pressure, am I right? You shouldn't. Even if your friends will tell you to do this and that and that other thing, you should stand firm. Don't let them push you into doing something you don't want to," he told her in a patronizing way.

Tae sighed. It was hopeless. "You're really a silly man, Gin-san."

Gintoki stared ahead but there was a wistful smile on his face. Silly enough to fall for you.

::end::