Gintama Is Love!

A Flower That Never Withers (Katsura Kotaro)

"KATSURA!" Bombs and Bazookas were fired, Katsura panted as he hid behind an alley, clutching his injured arm he grit his teeth when the Shinsengumi passed by him. Suddenly, the door to where he was was opened and seeing it as a chance to escape, Katsura ran inside.

Once inside, he met with beautiful (E/C) hues staring stunned at him. Katsura quickly covered the woman's mouth and shushed her. Once the coast was clear he let go of her. "Sorry, would you mind if I stay here for a while?" Katsura says as he collapsed in the floor.

"Oh- you're injured! It's fine!" (Y/N) gushed as she led him to what seemed to be the living room. "Hold on, I'll get you the first aid kit!" She says sitting him upon the couch. Katsura looked around her place, it seemed like she lived alone.

Plants and flowers decorated the sinple house, and judging by the shop connected to the house, she was the owner of the flower shop up front. One thing caught Katsura's eye- it was the altar placed in the corner.

"These are pretty bad injuries." (Y/N) frowns as she tended to his wounds. She didn't even bother asking where he got them, or quetion him as to why he was taking shelter at her place after suddenly invading her privacy.

'What a kind woman.' He noted in his head, while gazing at her. "Oh right, I'm (Y/N). I'n the owner of this small flower shop!" She introduced with a pure, gentle smile after she finished patching up his wounds.

"You can call me....Zura." Katsura says, for some reason- he wasn't bothered with her calling him by the nickname he so hated. "Zura? That's a cute name." She beamed happily, "Then, Zura-kun. Are you hungry?"

Katsura's eyes widened, that nickname sounded so good coming from her mouth and with her voice. Slowly, he nodded and (Y/N) stood up to cook something up. This was when Katsura saw a certain something that sparkled against the light.

A ring.

'I knew it. Such a good woman would not be single.' Katsura sighed disappointingly to himself. It wasn't that long before (Y/N) came back with food which Katsura found so delicious. "So, where's your husband?" Katsura asked, his eyes never leaving the silver ring which was hanging from her necklace.

"My husband...huh?" A faint, ironic smile appeared on her lips as her fingers went up to touch the ring. "He's in a better place." She closed her eyes softly, "I'm sorry...." Katsura looked stunned as he apologized.

"It's alright." She laughed, waving her hand at Katsura. "So, Zura-kun. Is it good?"

After that, Katsura frequently visited the flower shop. It wasn't for the flowers but for (Y/N). He knew what was up with himself- he had fallen in love. (Y/N) didn't mind his frequent visits, she loved his company. He was a great company, she found him amusing. She didn't tell him, but she already knew his true identity when she first saw him at her house.

"Why do you have a flower shop, (Y/N)-dono?" Katsura asked as he watched her water the flowers with a gentle smile. "My husband loved flowers. He once planted a dozen flowers just for me. So when he died, I decided to follow in his footsteps." She smiled lowly, "I planted every single flower I could find. Then my house started getting full of flowers so I decided to sell them. It isn't a bad business, flowers make everyone happy." (Y/N) turned to Katsura with a smile that made his heart do back flips.

"Don't you think so, Zura-kun?"

"Yeah...Flowers do make everyone happy." Katsura smiled lowly, and then his eyes travelled to a lone pot sitting at the corner, it's flower was already withering. "(Y/N)-dono, what about that flower?" Katsura asked curiously as (Y/N) turned around and she smiled sadly.