Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama.

Rating: M

Pairing: Gintoki x Hijikata

Warnings: A little of this and a little of that. It's not too explicit but it's there. Be warned.

Author's Notes: Thank you, CucumberKun (www fanfiction net/u/807202/CucumberKun) for beta-ing this story.

This is the final chapter. I'm so happy I actually finished a multi-chapter fic. It's short but whatever. This was a major feat for me. Woo! I had a blast writing this. My skills are still a bit rusty but hopefully practice makes perfect.

This fic can stand alone as its own story. However, I am currently working on a second part that ties into where the Gintama anime starts and it will connect with some of the arcs. I'm hoping it will work. I've already run into a few bumps. Haha. I only have three chapters of that one finished and it looks like it will be longer than this one. So that's a good thing.

Thank you all for reading my fic!

And a huge thank you goes to those who reviewed! -hugs- I appreciate all of your wonderful comments.

freekielliie: Gintoki sure does have a knack for attracting our surly samurai. I really tried to keep them in character. I definitely had a tough time with that. I hope you enjoy the last chapter.

Chapter 06 – No Man is Island, He's a Mountain

It was early October when the war had ended with the Amanto. Word had gotten around to the general population that the new shogun had signed a peace treaty with the aliens and set up exclusive trade agreements as well as a permit to reside within Japan.

So soon, it would be not be uncommon to see strange looking beastlike creatures out and about in public. There had been a general discontent amongst the people more so with the rebel factions but many others were just happy the fighting was over.

With this new peace agreement, Kondou had confirmed their dojo would be moving to Edo not long after the treaty was signed. They were to become a policing force, the Shinesengumi, of the Bakufu. There would be lots of work recruiting and training men for each squad and redeveloping the laws for them to enforce that also would include the Amanto. It was going to be a busy first few years getting the whole thing going.

Hijikata was sitting in his spot within his grove. Sougo had been on his case the last few days about Mitsuba, he needed a break. The quiet woman had been a little more persistent, so much so that Sougo couldn't help but make it clear she was off limits to Hijikata. And he knew that well enough. Little did the brat know he'd made his decision about her long ago.

Women were so fickle and so were their younger overprotective brothers.

And then there was Gintoki. Just the thought of the other man pissed him off as of late. No, it was not because he missed the bastard. He did not miss him. He was not worried about him either. Hijikata wasn't some wife of some samurai awaiting her beloved's return. Fuck that.

He was starting to get aggravated.

Gintoki had left as he said he would back before summer began. He knew that it had been a goodbye of sorts. With the end of the war, Hijikata couldn't help but wonder if Gintoki had survived or if he was dead, rotting somewhere on those countless battlefields having died a warriors death.

It's not the fact Gintoki had left. It's not the fact he could be dead. Those are not what bothered the surly samurai. It was the fact Gintoki had made these strange and foreign feelings develop within him that he couldn't analyze well enough to decipher. It was the fact that Hijikata could tell himself that he felt something for the white haired man. What that something was could be left up for debate but he knew it was there, lingering, simmering, and waiting to come to the surface.

Fucking bastard and his stupid natural perm hair.

Hijikata needed a drink or something to ease his mind. Maybe he should try smoking.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath allowing the growing rage to subside. He should enjoy this place while he could. He wouldn't be here much longer. The autumn colours brightened up the area and the falling leaves no unlike the petals in the spring, made the grove so ethereal—magical.

A light breeze made its way through the grove and the dry leaves began to rustle above him causing a few to float and glide through the moving air. He watched them swirl and twist as they descended to the ground. Hijikata picked up a leaf that had landed near him and studied its varying shades of red.

If one cannot appreciate the beauty of nature for every bit of peace it offers, then that is a life well wasted. He supposed so anyways.

He would miss this place.

Idly, he wondered if Gintoki missed it too.

.oOo.

Throughout October, word had it that all of Japan was holding festivals in commemoration of the end of the war. Each town and city had their own celebration. The shogunate wanted to bring up the morale amongst the population. Regardless of the end of the war, many samurai and innocent people had died.

Bushuu was no different. There would be stalls of food and games, performances and fireworks. Bushuu had spared no expense in decorating, Hijikata noted as he walked through the throngs of people alongside Mitsuba. She had insisted on walking with him even though he had clearly declined. Sougo had also made it clear he would be chaperone, which was of no problem to Hijikata.

"Nee-san!" Okita shouted as they came up the goldfish game, "Let's try this one out!"

Hijikata stood aside and watched the siblings try and catch goldfish. He had no interest in these sorts of things but if it made her happy, he would deal with it.

The streets were lined and lit with red lanterns crisscrossing over the walkways. It was not quite dark yet but they lanterns were slowly being lit. It was beginning to cast a pleasant glow overhead as the sky began to darken.

Sougo and Mitsuba walked up to him each holding a bowl containing a fish. They looked at him pleadingly, well Mitsuba did. Sougo was threatening him with his eyes. That kid was going to be trouble when he got older.

"I'm not holding those for either of you," Hijikata muttered as he crossed his arms and turned away from them.

Not two minutes later, Hijikata was following Sougo and Mitsuba down the street holding their bowls containing their goldfish. And it wasn't long before he was carrying bags full of snacks and prizes from each stall the siblings decided to look and or play at.

Mitsuba and Sougo were currently playing a ring toss game. The boy wanted to win the bokuto and both were trying to unsuccessfully throw a ring onto the bottle in the centre. After Sougo demanded more money from Hijikata, the dark-haired man gave him some more before putting their stuff down beside them and moving on to look at the next stall.

It was a small shop like any other but this particular one was selling masks. There were varying types that he looked at, not really interested but he was already tired of watching Sougo lose. Many of the masks were brightly coloured but there was one in particular that caught his eye. There was really no reason it should have but he picked it up nonetheless. It was a white kitsune. He was a little surprised because kitsune tended to be feared these days.

Wise, faithful, but untrustworthy. It was quite the contradiction.

It was a little odd for the vendor to be even selling a kitsune mask. Hijikata doubted anyone would buy it. He placed it back down and went to see if Mitsuba and Sougo were done.

She was waiting for him in the middle of the street, carrying her bowl. Sougo was nowhere to be seen. He sent her a questioning look and she hid her laugh behind her sleeve.

"He's hungry so I gave him some money to get us some food. Shall we?" Mitsuba gestured in the direction she sent Sougo.

Hijikata nodded and walked alongside her. He offered to take her fish bowl but she shook her head. She held her bowl in her left hand and linked her right arm with Hijikata's. He stiffened a little but couldn't deny her. She looked too happy. Night had completely fallen and the lanterns cast a reddish glow along the street. Hijikata quite liked them.

"The fireworks should be starting soon," Mitsuba said thoughtfully, "I'd like to see them before we go."

Hijikata nodded as he continued to walk. They were headed towards Bushuu's central garden. The fireworks would be held there. However, Mitsuba stopped walking causing Hijikata to turn and look at her.

"What is it?" He asked.

People were walking past them on both sides. It was actually too crowded for Hijikata but he couldn't say no to her request to come here. Mitsuba was giving him a strange look, almost pleading. She was nervous. If her shaking arm was any indication. Hijikata instinctively reached towards her and checked her forehead with the back of his hand.

"Are you not well? Should I take you home?" He began to question.

Mitsuba shook her head and smiled at him. He frowned as she stepped closer to him. He took a hold of the edge of his kimono, tiptoed up and kissed his cheek. He definitely hadn't expected that and looked at her with slightly widened eyes. Mitsuba was blushing.

"Oi, bastard! Don't touch her!" Sougo shouted as he threw his sandal at Hijikata's head.

He caught it with ease but before he could do or say anything, Hijikata caught a glimpse of white moving within the crowd. His sharp eyes tried to follow it but it disappeared. He scanned the rest of the crowd around him. It felt as though it could be a threat and he put his hand on his sword, attempting to focus on the blood lust that was approaching.

Another flash of white appeared to his left and he looked. Nothing. Then it was behind him and he turned but again, it was gone. He could hear Mitsuba scolding her brother in the background but he couldn't focus on it. Whatever or whomever was trying to attack him was going to strike soon.

Mitsuba turned her attention back to Hijikata and found him to be completely absorbed with something else. She went to place her hand on his face to turn him back to her but before she could even touch him, a glimmer of white appeared suddenly and before she even knew what was going on, Hijikata was gone. She turned about her but she couldn't find him. He had disappeared into the crowd. Frowning, she turned back to her ornery brother to placate his anger.

.oOo.

A strong hand had grabbed his wrist and was dragging him through the crowds of people in the street and away from Mitsuba and Sougo. Most of his concentration was focused on not bumping into people and tripping over his feet. Whoever had his hand was fast but was also skillfully weaving through the crowd. When he could catch a glimpse of the culprit, all he saw was white.

When Hijikata tried to pull his hand out of the other person's grip, it only tightened and pulled harder. He was certain if this person wanted him dead, he'd have tried to kill him by now. But seriously, what the fuck?

They ran until they made it through all the crowds and Hijikata was led towards the outer edge of the central garden away from the festival. They were on a rock path under the arches where the wisteria bloomed in the summer. This area wasn't being used for the festival and wasn't lit at all. The only light they had was from the half crescent moon in the starry sky.

The person in white was not facing him when his hand was released but his white clothing glowed in the moonlight. Judging from his stature, he was a man.

"Who are you? And why the fuck did you drag me out here?" Hijikata demanded as he withdrew his sword.

The man didn't speak as he turned to face Hijikata. He was surprised to find the man wearing the kitsune mask he had been looking at earlier. The man in white stepped forward as Hijikata lifted his sword and pointed it towards the stranger.

The man in white tilted his head and took another step forward.

"I will cut you down where you stand. Now answer me!" Hijikata seethed.

A hand reached out from the sleeve of the white kimono was wearing and gently touched the tip of Hijikata's blade. Soothing fingers moved from the tip to the side of the blade and calmly pressed down, urging Hijikata to lower his katana. As the man did this, he stepped closer until he was right in front of Hijikata reaching up to cup his face with his right hand.

A familiar scent flooded the dark-haired man's senses as realization struck.

"You," he whispered.

The man behind the mask chuckled, "No, you."

"What are you doing here?" Hijikata pulled away from Gintoki's touch.

"I've come to claim what's mine," Gintoki was grinning when he slid the mask up to rest on top of his wavy white hair but something was off about him. Hijikata wasn't sure but it wasn't quite right.

Before Hijikata could respond, Gintoki had swooped in and captured his lips in a heated kiss. It was forced and not like what he remembered it to be. There was an anger to it and the dark-haired man did not want to give Gintoki the control he was seeking. So he bit his lip.

Gintoki grunted and pulled away and Hijikata punched his left cheek. Gintoki was knocked back and onto the ground.

"Ow, ow, ow. What was that for, Hijikata-kun?" Gintoki grumbled as he looked up at the dark haired man, wiping the blood from his lips with his sleeve.

Then he saw it.

Hijikata squatted down in front of Gintoki, resting his arms on his thighs, as he scrutinized him. He didn't say a word and the white-haired man was getting visibly uncomfortable with it. Gintoki finally looked away from him unable to handle the obvious examination. Hijikata silently waited for Gintoki to turn to face him again.

When he did, Hijikata reached forward and flicked his forehead through his wavy hair.

"Ouch," Gintoki frowned and rubbed his forehead.

"You're an idiot," Hijikata finally spoke as he stood up and reached his hand out to the man below him.

Gintoki took his proffered hand and Hijikata helped him stand. He didn't even bother dusting himself off as he approached the dark-haired man. This time, however, Gintoki just stepped into Hijikata's space and rested his head on the other man's shoulder. His familiar smell drifting over Hijikata's senses. As the coldness of the mask in Gintoki's hair pressed against his cheek. He seemed a lot broader than the last time he had seen him. They were still the same height but he presumed all of Gintoki's fighting had further developed his body.

"Care to explain?" He mumbled as he attempted to force away the impending blush from their close proximity that threatened to overtake his pale skin.

"I'm tired," Gintoki admitted as he rested his hands on Hijikata's hips, "and maybe a little jealous."

Hijikata tried to pull away but Gintoki held fast and refused to let him move. His actions didn't have the forcefulness behind them this time so the dark haired man relented and let Gintoki hold him.

"You're being childish," Hijikata stated before adding, "and stupid."

"Maybe. But you care about her, don't you?" Gintoki turned his head to face Hijikata's neck, his breath fanning the sensitive skin there.

"Yes," and Hijikata felt Gintoki's hands tighten around his hips slightly at his honesty. He didn't feel the need to get into details regarding Mitsuba. She had no part in whatever it was he and Gintoki shared.

"But Hijikata-kun also likes Gin-san too," Gintoki's voice dropped a few decibels into an overly familiar husky tone Hijikata was no stranger to.

"That," he paused, "is to be debated." He turned his face away as Gintoki's head popped up and stared at him in question.

"Eh? Really?"

Hijikata let the fact go that they would not be talking about what had happened the last few months. They would not be talking about that lost, lonely, and lifelessness Hijikata had found swirling within Gintoki's eyes when he had first taken off the mask. His once vibrant red hue was stained with a darkness he could not quite comprehend. A silent understanding had been made.

"Who knows," was his response.

Gintoki slid his face closer to Hijikata's neck and smiled against the skin there, inhaling his scent. The shiver that coursed through Hijikata was enough to encourage the white-haired man to press a feather light kiss against his pulse point. Hijikata swallowed sharply and refrained from biting his lower lip.

How he had gotten himself in this position with this other man, he did not know. He found himself getting caught up in Gintoki's pace again like no time had passed since their last meeting. And it had been so easy to do so. Too easy, he thought as Gintoki's right hand moved from his hip to slide up his abdomen, over his chest and up to grab a hold of his chin gently. The white-haired samurai stood up and regarded him with his darkened eyes.

Hijikata couldn't say a damn thing as a bright flash lit up the darkened sky above them and a loud bang reverberated through the air. He moved to look up but didn't have a chance to because Gintoki's hand kept his head in place as he leaned forward and took his lips with a reckless abandon Hijikata was unprepared for. He found his own lips moving in sync with Gintoki's insistent ones, not really sure how he was able to even keep up with the other man.

Gintoki guided them backwards until Hijikata's back hit the support column of the arch they were standing under. He found his hands had taken a hold of Gintoki's mess of tangled wavy hair more than likely to, and he would take this to his grave, support himself as Gintoki overwhelmed him with his growing intensity. He could feel Gintoki's hands roam up and down and around him. He was everywhere all at once and Hijikata allowed himself to lose his very being to this man that had broken down his walls and made a place for himself within them.

This is the only reason why Hijikata found himself on a futon in a small inn he'd already forgotten the name of with Gintoki moving over him—inside him. Hijikata was grasping the bigger man's back, his legs around his waist in a meagre attempt of trying to keep himself grounded as the myriad of feelings assaulted his very existence. It fucking hurt. It was as simple as that. But, Gintoki was smiling at him, kissing him, shamelessly watching him and saying his name. His red eyes were glowing that familiar burning red. Every once in a while, when he pushed in a certain way, it sent an indescribably delicious wave of pleasure throughout his body.

He would gasp and moan in response, encouraging Gintoki to make him feel that again. And when he did, Hijikata's nails would grip and dig into the white-haired man's back leaving red crescents or burning lines wherever he scratched. They were young and inexperienced. Hijikata more so than Gintoki if this whole situation was any clue. If he didn't know better, Gintoki had probably done this before. That thought was pushed aside when Gintoki hit that spot within him again and he lost himself as those persistent lips captured his own. They were messy now and needy and neither man seemed to care.

Their slick bodies moved together filling the room with gasps, moans, and flesh hitting flesh. Hijikata's inexperience threw them off a few times but Gintoki worked with it and managed to steadily increase their pace. Gintoki's hand reached between their bodies and grabbed a hold of him moving in time with his thrusts. It took only a moment before Hijikata cried out as his orgasm ripped through his body. Red eyes were locked on with blue. The white-haired samurai followed soon after, emptying himself within the confines of Hijikata's body.

Both men were breathless and panting, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking as the air began to cool their overheated and sweaty bodies. Hijikata was having a difficult time looking the other man in the eye. Embarrassment was slowly creeping up as his senses began to return to normal. Gintoki only laughed at his uneasiness and leaned down to kiss him again. He pulled out slowly as he did this and Hijikata had to break their kiss at the weird feeling. He could also feel Gintoki wipe away the mess on his stomach with the blanket long since pushed aside.

Gintoki remained on top of Hijikata for a little longer to nuzzle the crook of his neck and shamelessly inhale his scent. The dark-haired man shivered at the movement of air against his damp skin.

"Stop that," Hijikata's voice was quiet.

Gintoki leaned up a bit to look his at his lover's face and said wistfully, "Gin-san wants to remember your smell."

Hijikata didn't say anything at first.

"You're leaving again." It was a statement. Hijikata got over his awkwardness and finally returned Gintoki's gaze, challenging him to deny it.

And it was Gintoki who looked away this time unable to handle the gravity of Hijikata's stormy blue eyes. He pushed himself up to sit facing away from the dark haired man but failed to hide his expression from him as he did so. There was something dark about it. And something despondent. Hijikata also sat up, wincing a little at the pain in his lower extremities as he crossed his legs and studied Gintoki's strong, naked back. There were multiple scars adorning his skin, the scratch marks he had just left, and from this angle, he could see the top of the thick scar from that day he dragged Gintoki out of the grove back to Bushuu.

Silence befell the pair. Gintoki would shift every once in a while and the muscles in his back would undulate with each movement. The white-haired samurai took a deep breath before turning to look at Hijikata again.

Gintoki forced out a laugh but the smile that followed did not reach his eyes. His red orbs became muddled and dull. Gintoki had been very difficult for Hijikata to read since that first day they met but today the white-haired man had very little defenses up.

"I lost," was all he said.

He didn't have to say anything else. Hijikata understood the innumerable meanings behind those two words. A war had just ended. Everyone had lost something. And, Gintoki being that nonchalant idiot he is, was now silently questioning his own existence. Hijikata didn't know, and may never know, the severity of what this man had gone through but he knew enough not to press him any further until Gintoki's intentions became clear.

"You can't use me as an anchor to your past," Hijikata said quietly, understanding why Gintoki had sought him out. Hijikata was his last link to before the end of the war.

"I know," Gintoki responded, "That's why I won't stay."

Gintoki turned around fully and kneeled in front of Hijikata. He reached his hand towards him and traced lines across Hijikata's torso with his rough, calloused fingers. The dark-haired man looked down to find his neck, chest and abdomen littered with sporadic kiss marks from their previous activities. Hijikata couldn't even hide the flush that inflamed his cheeks at the fact the idiot was playing connect-the-dot with the hickies he'd left. His hand paused on a mark where his collarbone met his neck.

"I'd like to meet you again one day, Hijikata-kun," Gintoki caught his gaze, "Maybe then you could give me back the hair clip I left with you."

There was a moment of silence and Hijikata just shook his head.

"I thought that was you."

"Oh! So you knew?" Gintoki was surprised.

"I was drunk but I'm not stupid," Hijikata left out the fact it took him a lot longer than it should have to figure it out. He looked away again, slightly embarrassed at himself.

"You can go now."

"But Gin-san wants to spend the whole night with Hijikata-kun," Gintoki had his hand on Hijikata's chest and was urging him to lay down again.

They didn't have sex again that night. Hijikata figured Gintoki was aware of the massive amount of pain radiating from his backside. They just remained in each other's company. Mostly in silence but Gintoki would start a conversation here and there. Hijikata would respond, sometimes he wouldn't and he'd just let the other man talk. Hijikata hadn't realized just how comfortable he was around Gintoki. So much so, he'd ended up falling asleep to the sound of Gintoki's voice.

When he woke up there were warm, soft lips pressed against his own. They were gone before he could even react to them. Not that his sleep muddled mind cared.

Hijikata mumbled something unintelligible earning him a chuckle from Gintoki who only kissed him quickly again. The dark-haired man heard him get up from the futon and walk towards the door. It slid open and Gintoki stepped out.

"Gintoki," Hijikata murmured groggily as he rolled onto his side allowing sleep to overcome him.

Gintoki paused and smiled to himself. Goodbye, Hijikata-kun.

.oOo.

Hijikata hadn't been surprised to wake up and find Gintoki had left before dawn the next day. It hadn't bothered him at all. He understood the battle the other man was having with himself all too well even if he didn't know what had happened.

He was no woman. He wouldn't pine over the white-haired idiot.

Hijikata wouldn't even be in Bushuu should Gintoki ever return. They were leaving for Edo in a few days.

He was sitting by the open door and idly observed the autumn-reddened garden outside not really looking at anything in particular. There was a dull ache in his lower back that he found rather fucking annoying—that curly-haired bastard. He wasn't going to think about it anymore than he needed to either. Hijikata thought it was best to store those feelings and memories in a vault and move on.

He had a new life waiting for him in Edo with the Shinsengumi. He would be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to it. Kondou-san had ensured their future and he would work hard to make sure their police force was a success.

Perm-haired idiot or not.

"Heh. Bastard."