4 ❀ 花吐き病

[konnosuke]

H A N A H A K I ✿

Hanahaki is a fictional disease in which the victim coughs up flower petals when they suffer from one-sided love. It ends when the beloved returns their feelings (romantic love only; strong friendship is not enough), or when the victim dies. It can be cured through surgical removal, but when the infection is removed, the victim's romantic feelings for their love also disappear.

Comments

[shirayama]

Ah?

( It's not that he doesn't like it but he's so set on hiding his face, when Chougi kisses him, he flinches away, covering his face with his sleeves again, looking over them demurely. A kiss.... what a human thing.

But there's something more. In all of his distress, he's still ever observant. Something is different and he lowers his sleeve, reaching out to touch Chougi's chest with his fingers. )

Your condition... ( He scoots closer, focusing his senses, ) It is improving...?

( But then that would mean. )

[xx_ogsalty158_xx]

[ He's seen Hakusan hide in his sleeves a million times before, but the way he peeks over them is also new. And cute.

Shit, he's really got it bad, doesn't he? Too bad he--

Wait, what? ]

It...really? You're sure?

[ It's true that although his chest still aches, it doesn't feel nearly as tight as it did. Nor does he feel like he's about to start coughing any moment. But that would mean... ]

Hime. You do.

[ Love him. ]

[shirayama]

( He's quiet, Melon approaching and observing with Hakusan. It isn't completely improved but yes. He's certain that Chougi is healing. He's watched Chougi's health deteriorate for so long, he's acutely aware of even this small change.

He pulls back when Chougi says the exact thing that Hakusan was also thinking. )

Eh? ( It's soft, confused and he raises his sleeve to his face again but this time, he ducks behind it, seemingly needing a moment to collect himself and think. The only way this could be cured is if the one Chougi loves returns the feelings and so if Chougi is getting better... ) I... do?

( He...

Ah.

Quietly, uncertainly, )

I love Yamanbagiri Chougi...?

( Is that possible? Can someone like him truly love someone else? Even though he is a tsurugi and unable to act human like katana....? Melon hops onto his shoulder, nuzzling his face, almost encouragingly, )

I... love Yamanbagiri Chougi.

[xx_ogsalty158_xx]

[ Oh. Wow.

Chougi laughs gleefully, pausing for a moment to cough -- that tickle in his chest isn't entirely gone and won't be for a while, but the coughing only lasts a fraction of the time it did before and then he's right back to laughing.

His feelings aren't unrequited, the miracle he didn't expect to get happened after all. Hakusan just needed a little more time to figure it out. ]

You do. You love me and I love you and I'm gonna be okay. Hime--

[ He's grinning a little stupidly, but cut him some slack, he's exhausted. A little bit of over the top giddiness in this situation is to be expected. ]

Hime, you healed me! You fixed it!

[shirayama]

( Chougi coughs and there's a brief moment of panic. Is he still sick? Of course, it'll take more than a few moments to recover completely after being sick fo so long. The laughing puts him back at peace though and he frowns, watching curiously.

What's so funny? Was it something he said? He hadn't said anything humorous at all and this situation isn't really something he would laugh at...

But while Chougi laughs, and says he's been healed and that can't be. He's been so convinced he would be unable to love because he was a tsurugi and so poor at emotions but here, Chougi is better and the only way that could be would be if Hakusan loved him.

He touches his cheek,. )

Ah... ( And then he leans into himself some, touching his chest with his other hand, ) Eh? ( And then he glances at Chougi before looking back down, focusing on this feeling in his chest, ) Eh...?!

( Is this it? )

Is this... love...?

( By comparison, he must sound quiet next to Chougi's laughter. )

[xx_ogsalty158_xx]

[ He's so uncertain and quiet, and Chougi wouldn't have him any other way. Well, the quiet part, anyway. He's hoping some time in this citadel will help Hakusan stop second-guessing his ability to fit in. He's still a sword, after all. Still "one of them." ]

I think so. I think it's gotta be. Here, look.

[ Chougi sits up straight and takes as deep a breath as he can and lets it out slowly again. And he only coughs a little bit at the end. Probably strained his still recovering lungs a little bit with that. Oops. ]

I can breathe, Hime. Thanks to you.

[ And since Hakusan isn't currently hiding behind his sleeves, Chougi's going to take advantage of that and kiss his other cheek. Just because he can. ]

You worked so hard to heal me. And you did.

[shirayama]

( He jumps when he's kissed again, his face feeling warm and his eyes starting to water again.

Scooting closer, he reaches out hesitantly to touch Chougi's chest, just to feel him breathe unobstructed. He doesn't have to keep his hand there for as long as he does but his touch lingers. Every now and then, he hiccups, still trying to rein in these overwhelming emotions. His other hand slowly reaches for some of the fabric in Chougi's clothes, awkwardly thumbing it.

It's times like this where he's lucky to also have Melon. Still perched on his neck, the fox watches Chougi and then curls around he back of Hakusan's neck, cuddling close. Hug him, you sick sword, because Hakusan is too modest and uncertain to make any moves on his own. )

[xx_ogsalty158_xx]

[ Lucky for them both, Chougi is fluent in "Hakusan" and at least a little more in touch with his own emotions. He's learned that for these human bodies of theirs, sometimes the best cure for tears is close contact. So that's what he gives Hakusan now. ]

C'mere. C'mon.

[ Hop down for a second, Melon. Chougi wraps his arms around Hakusan and pulls him closer. Since this is one of the repair rooms, there's a futon laid out, and although it might not be as cozy as the ones in their room it'll still be plenty comfortable. And more importantly, they don't need to leave the room to get to it. Rather than leave to go back and risk getting bombarded with questions from curious Toushirous, a little privacy is probably better.

Plus, Chougi kind of wants to keep Hakusan all to himself for just a little bit. Let him revel in this change of events for a few hours. So he tugs Hakusan over to the futon and gets them both settled on it and lying down. Melon can lie on top of Hakusan, but he better let Chougi cuddle Hakusan, too. ]

The last couple days have been rough. I think we'll both feel better if we get some sleep. Yeah?

[shirayama]

( Melon obliges for now and hops down, stepping aside to give the two of them room. Of course, he isn't going to leave Hakusan alone, though, even if it's with Chougi. His sword boy is upset and he wants to be close to him to make sure he's fine.

As for Hakusan, he moves easily, leaning into Chougi as he's led over towards the futon. It does register in his mind that they're sharing a bed. They're going to share a bed and... isn't that... intimate? But he thinks about Ichigo and how he also sleeps with his brothers sometimes. There are different levels of intimacy and familiarness to consider and he's too exhausted to figure it out now.

Next to Chougi, he moves close, burying his face against his chest because his face is a mess and he can't help but feel... a little embarrassed(?) by this situation. He's sharing a bed with Chougi and they'll fall asleep together. Is this how they'll be from now on? There's a lot to think about but up close there's something else on his mind. Close to Chougi, feeling his chest rise and fall, he feels... )

... Warm. ( He's never noticed how warm it feels when two people get close. Not wanting to be left out, Melon also climbs onto Hakusan, ) It's nice.

[xx_ogsalty158_xx]

[ Hakusan's a little embarrassed and Chougi's floating on cloud nine. While poor Hakusan is thinking about a dozen different things, Chougi's just soaking in a good dose of happiness. One he's sorely needed. One they've both needed.

He reaches up to give Melon a little pet. ]

Yeah. It's really nice.

[ It's nice and he's hoping they'll get to do this a lot more from now on. ]

Get some sleep, okay? I'll-- [ He breaks off, but this time it's for a huge yawn and not a cough. ] --I'll still be here in the morning.

[shirayama]

( Hakusan will stay awake for a little longer, waiting to make sure Chougi's health is really on the mend. He's careful not to move too much so as to not disturb his rest but he'll shift a little just to make himself more comfortable. It doesn't take much, though. It feels... nice next to Chougi like this.

Really nice.

And he wonders,

Oohime, is this happiness...? )