Romance had never been a part of Gintoki's life.
Sure he had slept with countless women in the red light district and even once had a huge crush on Edo's favorite weather girl, Ketsuno Ana- but now that he was in his mid-thirties and looked at his friends getting married and starting their own family and life, sometimes it made him wonder how things would have been if he had led a normal life. Of course he was not a very busy man and he spent most of his day doing odd jobs and reading jumps, but occasionally thoughts like dating and love and marriage crossed his head; especially when he found himself looking at her.
Tsukuyo never did relationships.
Now as a thirty-year old woman who looked after a huge city with her comrades, not once in her life did she think of someday settling down. Everybody knew that about her; responsibilities came first and no matter how many times Hinowa suggested her to take a break and live a normal life for herself, she always refused. Even when she mentioned his name, Tsukuyo would find herself smile and maybe even think of the possibilities for a little but then leave the teahouse for patrol just like any other day.
Life was not very grateful to them during their younger years. War, deaths, trafficking, a sealed life full of guilt and burdens- Gintoki and Tsukuyo still dreamed of the unfulfilled promises they once made. There were countless people they wanted to protect, countless things they wished to say; so much had already happened in their past that they still felt the fear of losing everything they had today.
It wasn't like these two didn't believe in second chances or happy endings- of course there were countless occasions where they witnessed two people promising to spend their life with each other. There were even a number of occasions where they themselves shared unforgettable moments with others. They had a good life now, there was no questioning that. They had a family, they had great friends, a life which was still not very much sorted or lighthearted but a good life nonetheless. But sometimes when they were asked whether they would like to start a new life with a certain someone, they would often find themselves hesitate.
Romance was never a part of their lives and yet when they met each other, they would think of the life which might have been possible if they had met under different circumstances.
They lived in two different worlds, their lives completely different from one another. Two individuals who were complete opposites and yet so similar. When one of them would find the other waving at them in a crowd, both of them would decide to spend a few hours together as they talked about how their day was and what they had been doing. Their conversations were nothing new but the comfort they found in each other was unexplainable.
They knew nothing about romance but sometimes they would think how life would have been if they were together.
The little glances they gave each other, the smiles and moments they shared together, the way they held each others hands in public as if it was second nature to them- it was never something extreme but before could realise it, Gintoki and Tsukuyo had found serendipity in each other.
Romance was never a part of his life but she was the only exception.
Romance was never a part of her life but he meant so much more to her.
Only if they had enough courage, only if they could take a step forward. Only if they could stop daydreaming and simply say their true feelings to each other.
They were not oblivious; they had always known what they have been sharing together. Not that they were dissatisfied with the relationship they shared but they had their reasons. There was just too much to look at right now and too much to do and they were only two novices who had no idea about the whole "love" and "relationship" situation.
Maybe they would say it someday. Maybe they would never. Maybe there was no need for that and they would just spend the rest of their life like this together. Maybe tomorrow they would make a move or maybe a few years later. Maybe there was already an alternate universe where they led a normal life together.
Even after years later, they were already content with the relationship they shared and were pretty certain that "I love you" was the last thing they were going to say to each other.
This was already enough for them but maybe, maybe if they did end up saying it, they wouldn't mind hearing it either.
