Let me just say that this one shot was inspired by Chapter 551. For some odd reason, the Japanese fans are in love with this trope ever since the chapter was published, and the fervor for it grew more intense with today's episode.

Spoilers until Farewell, Shinsengumi Arc.

Lastly, this was posted way back in December 17, 2015, but I thought that it would be more appropriate to post it on the day 551 gets animated and aired on TV.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Gintama. It belongs to Sorachi Hideaki.

Everyday Diary

Kiss Me Goodbye

A Sad Kiss

They were neither friends nor lovers, but when she found herself grabbing his waist to pull him closer; for a split second, she contemplated on tilting her head for a bit just so she could plant a small peck on his cheek as an excuse to say that she was 'grateful' and that from now on, 'she wanted them to get along' [1]. It would be a while before they would see one another again (she refused to admit that they were 'parting ways'), and somehow, gut instinct told her that if done correctly, the gesture would be a pleasant new memory that she could [secretly] cling to until he returned.

What Kagura had not noticed was that he, too, had tilted his head in preparation. Before she realized it, sadist had secured his hold around her neck and had managed to land a light peck on her lips. In a split second, he had managed to press his lips harder against her own, and had even made her part her lips with his tongue as he gently sucked and licked her lower lip. She felt her whole body quiver when Okita had used his other arm to secure his hold on her waist; silently, she was thankful for it, as her legs were slowly becoming unsteady from their kiss. The last thing she wanted to do was cling on to him just because the sensation on her mouth was making her, to her embarrassment... melt.

There was no way she would allow him to know the effect he had on her.

She still had her pride, after all.

They pulled apart seconds later, their breaths labored and heavy. Automatically, she bowed her head, embarrassed that she had done such a spur-of-a-moment thing that she was afraid to look up, only to see him smirking at her.

She survived worse, but the thought of him stomping on her sporadic act by mocking her… that would destroy what little dignity she had left.

"China."

When she did not look up, he placed his right hand under her chin and tried to tilt it up so that she would be forced to look at him. Stubbornly, she kept staring at the ground, never letting her chin look up at him.

"Look at me."

His voice did not have any hint of arrogance in it, which didn't really surprise her. For all his insults and his rotten mouth that said nothing but cruel things, he could be surprisingly humble... though she still did not trust him not to flash her an arrogant smirk. This time, while she let him tilt her chin up, she closed her eyes just so she would not see the haughty smile that she imagined that was on his lips.

"... I said, 'look at me.'"

"N-no." damn it, why did her voice quiver just now?

"Suit yourself."

"F-fine then...!" just before she could see her surroundings, the shape of his palm had covered her eyes once more. "W-what-"

She couldn't make it out at first, but when he leaned further, pressing his body against hers while her back hit the cool concrete caused by the early winter weather, she knew that he was really kissing her. In turn, the female Yato placed an arm around the back of his neck to bring him closer, running her tongue against his lips while he reciprocated by sucking on her tongue.

Why did he feel the need to cover her eyes when it was dark enough…? The sun had only begun to set when they met one another at their usual spot in the park; after a bit of strolling around Edo, it slowly got dark and she, after finally gathering enough courage to pull him at a rather private spot in an alley, had only wanted to give him a peck.

Thinking back, she should have not gone through with it.

She was probably going to regret this but…

To hell with that.

Tonight was not the time for her to be analyzing every damn thing that was happening. This was her last chance to at least get her point across for once that did not involve the swinging of her umbrella in an attempt to best him and show him who was boss.

Tonight was her last chance with him.

Tonight was the last chance she had before he would leave for a future that was filled with uncertainty.

While she was confident with knowing that he would be able to handle everything that would go his way, there was still this sense of uneasiness within her that she vaguely remembered as the same feeling she had when she ventured out on her to explore the vast galaxy after Mami passed away. It was natural that people feared the unknown, but why was she feeling as if she would never see him again?

Hell, didn't they swear that they needed no parting words between them?

"… be back."

"W-what…?" she managed to say right after feeling his lips leave her own.

"I'll be back." He muttered against her ear once more. "I swear I'll go back."

"I know you would." She said in an equally low voice. "This is your home, is it not?"

"More than that… this is the place where I belong." With his hand still covering her eyes, it was hard for her to see what he was doing now. All she could feel was his lips on her ear, on her cheeks… on her jaw… she nearly shivered when he brushed past her neck underneath the winter coat she wore. "Don't you think…?"

All she could do was nod her head, unable to think and respond clearly after what he had just done to her.

Hell, her lips were still quivering, she could feel it even—

To her surprise, he suddenly let go. As she waited for her vision to clear, from the corner of her eye, she noticed that Okita Sougo was just about ready to leave. Scared that she would not be able to say her piece before he left, she walked as fast as she could and wrapped her arms from behind, preventing him from walking further.

"… Funny, but the guy who demanded that I look at him can't seem to face me now." She said in her attempt to lighten up the mood.

"Funny that." Despite the forced lightness in his tone, it was obvious to both of them that it was… difficult to come into terms with their current situation through words.

"Okita—"

"Didn't we say that there will be no parting words between us?" was it just her, or did his voice just crack…?

"… Then I'll be waiting." She found herself saying, ignoring what he had just uttered. At this rate, it was going to be hard to keep true to their promises. "We have yet to settle the score, remember…?"

"Right." At least, he sounded more like himself now. "Neither one of us can die until we finally know who's stronger."

"I'm gonna hold you on to that, sadist." She hugged him tighter. "You have to."

"Got it." He squeezed her arm in response. "I won't die… not until the next time we meet."

"When you get back, you'll have to make up for each and every day you've not been on Earth—"

Kagura felt the rumbling on his back, as well as the chuckle that followed. "Then we'll seal the deal with a kiss."

"A-again…?!" not that she minded it but—

A feather-light kiss on her hands and fingers, to her eternal shame, had more effect on her than the rather heated kisses they shared under the dark winter skies.

"Until next time, China. I'll see you around then."

And with that, she let go.

And uttered two word that she had vowed not to let slip past her lips.

… Farewell, Sougo.

See you soon.

Notes:

[1] - "... just so she could plant a small peck on his cheek as an excuse to say that she was 'grateful' and that from now on, 'she wanted them to get along'." - from Tales of Xillia. Certain party member forgives and finally accepts fellow party member after the latter betrayed the party so many times by giving the traitor a kiss on the cheek. The kiss, according to the forgiver, is by way of 'thanks' and 'let's get along'.

Bonus: Title was taken from Angela Aki's song 'Kiss Me Goodbye'.

Till next time!