6 ❀ Summer Citadel

[konnosuke]

Beach. Everyone has been working so hard lately so why not take a break and enjoy the beach? You can make sand castles, play in the water, and there are even umbrellas for those who'd rather just relax in the shade. There's a nice row of water melons ready to be smashed later in the day and when the sun goes down, that's when the sparklers come out. Suffering. It's the hottest time of the year and the citadel doesn't have central air conditioning. The few air conditions that were installed have given up on life after being used so much and now, we really have to make do with what we can while the Konnosuke try to fix it. There's a limited number of fans, plenty of ice cream to go around, and the citadel should be built to circulate air, right? ... Right?! Spooks. In Japan, summer is a time for horror. Gather around the camp fire and hear some spooky ghost stories or maybe head out into the woods just outside the citadel for a good ol' fashioned test of courage. It's all good, harmless fun! Of course, with so many spirits gathered in one place, what's to say a stray or curious outsider spirit won't join the mix... Rain. Summer is also known for sudden and torrential downpours of rain. The clouds always seem to grown and darken suddenly and the next thing you know, it's raining sheets and the ground is shaking from thunder. Once it starts, it never seems to stop. Maybe you were caught out in the rain or maybe this is day 7 stuck inside. Other! It's summer and there are tons of things to do. Go to the general store and stock up on ice cream, wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable with heat, or run around screaming because cicadas are dying and flying at your face.

 

Comments

[oncealifetime]

[Whoever dragged Gokotai into this and abandoned him here will have to face Ichigo's wrath later!

For now, he follows close behind Gokotai, trying his best not to give in to his urge to just rush out and save him. But then he accidentally steps on a twig and it snaps loudly...]

[toranogohiki]

[The snap make him jump and finally he draws his blade looking all around... and flailing even more.]

Uwaaaaaah.... I-I'm going to diiiiie....

[Ichi-nii, please help.]

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo’s resolve to not interfere with Gokotai’s test of courage collapses instantly. It did last around five minutes so that’s a new record. He immediately gives in to his urge to protect Gokotai and steps out from the shadows with a reassuring smile.]

Gokotai, it’s all right! It’s just me. [And he kneels down and holds his arms out for him.]

[toranogohiki]

[As soon as the person is identified, Gokotai lets out a little gasp... and then immediately runs to him to take refuge into the warm, familiar embrace.]

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<small>[As soon as the person is identified, Gokotai lets out a little gasp... and then immediately runs to him to take refuge into the warm, familiar embrace.]<:small>

I-Ichi-niiiii.... w-what is going on? I got lost, and, and.... ugh...

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo hugs his little brother close and strokes his hair soothingly. Then he looks a little puzzled at his question.]

This is a test of courage. Didn’t you sign up for it...?

[toranogohiki]

... Huh?

[He looks confused enough that it should be an answer.]

I w-woke up and the tigers weren't in the room so I went to look out for them but there were a lot of people missing and I didn't know where they were, and... and...

[oncealifetime]

[Well, that explains a lot. Ichigo smiles gently and ruffles Gokotai’s hair.]

I see. Well, let’s go look for those tigers then. [And he offers him his hand.]

[toranogohiki]

[He immediately latches onto that hand, holding it very tight.]

I-Ichi-nii.... where is everyone? When I woke up, a lot of people weren't in their beds, even in our room!

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo smiles down at him and gives his hand a reassuring squeeze, and off they go to find some tiger cubs!]

They must be taking part in the test of courage. We’re actually on the route for the test right now. Do you want to try it together while we look for your tigers? Maybe they’ve decided to take part in it.

[toranogohiki]

O-Oh.... that thing Yagen-niisan was talking about earlier.

[He feels like maybe, maybe Ichi-nii might wants him to try it, but... he squeezes the hand he's holding a little tighter.

He's scared, Ichi-nii, and he knows he's not courageous, and it's okay, right? he doesn't have to be brave all the time, right?]

Ichi-nii, I-I... I d-don't think....

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo smiles and crouches down to be at Gokotai’s level, then he pets his head with his free hand.]

That’s all right, Gokotai. I guess it is rather scary, isn’t it? Some parts of the route scared me as well when I was checking it to make sure everything was ready! [He laughs a little.] We’ll just go find your tigers then. Now, where do you think they might have gone? Do they have a favourite hiding place?

[toranogohiki]

I-I don't know... there were fireflies earlier, I think they may have chased them.... I don't know if they're all together or not...

[Honestly, the tigers can probably take care of themselves, but Gokotai always frets about them if they're not around.]

[oncealifetime]

Fireflies? Hmm... I think I saw some near a cave earlier. Don't worry, we'll find them all for you.

[And Ichigo knows how much they mean to his little brother and he's not going to rest till he rounds them all up!

And he starts walking, still holding Gokotai's hand firmly. He'll carry him if he gets too tired to walk anymore.]

[toranogohiki]

Uhm!

[Ichi-nii is here now, so everything will be alright! Like most Awataguchi tantou, Gokotai firmly believes it.

It takes a bit more looking around before they finally hear some chirping and little meows coming from another clearing.]

Ichi-nii, over there!

[oncealifetime]

Yes, I hear them. Let's hurry before they run off! [He quickens his pace but also makes sure Gokotai is able to keep up.]

[toranogohiki]

[The tigers are all frolicking about in the clearing, and once they reach it, Gokotai and Ichigo will see them chasing the fireflies... and then they see Gokotai and immediately come to jump around his feet.]

Why did all of you run away so fast? I-I was worried you'd get lost!

[oncealifetime]

[Ichigo smiles as he watches the reunion then he crouches down to pet the little cubs.]

At least, they are all here now and unharmed, Gokotai. Don't blame them. They are still young and apt to be curious. [He gives him a little hair ruffling then turns to look at the sea of fireflies surrounding him.] And this place is so beautiful. I've never seen so many fireflies in one place!

[This is the perfect place to bring someone very very special... a certain someone he'd found again. He blushes lightly at the thought.]

[toranogohiki]

[Kokotai is kneeling among the fuzzballs, checking all of them to make sure they're alright, but at the hair ruffle he looks up... just in time to see Ichigo blush.]

Ichi-nii, are you alright? Are you too hot?

[oncealifetime]

[He blinks in surprise at the question.]

Hot? Ah, no, I’m fine. I was just thinking of what a beautiful place this is and how nice it would be to bring...

[Should he tell his little brother? Surely, he will have to tell them sooner or later...? Tell them that they, well, they have one more big brother now. And anyway, he is feeling very happy and he wants to share his happiness.]

... someone very special to me here.

[toranogohiki]

O-Oh... you spoke to Mikazuki-san, then. I-I'm glad.

[Tell him what, Ichigo? You really think your brothers don't know? You, Honebami and Namazuo are the only ones to have damaged memories. Everyone else remembers, they just don't say anything because it's none of their business.]

[oncealifetime]

[And now Ichigo is truly surprised and also extremely embarrassed! Was it that obvious? He crouches down to be at his brother’s height.]

H-How did you know...?

[toranogohiki]

I-Ichi-nii... We all know.

[Was Ichi-nii really trying to be sneaky? Really?]

Even if we didn't, the way you look at him...

A-Ah, I'm sorry.

[Gokotai ducks his head slightly. Hopefully Ichi-nii isn't mad that apparently, all his little brothers know his love life better than he does.]

[oncealifetime]

All of you...?

[Ichigo visibly pales. Just what is the extent of their knowledge?? He sincerely hopes it is just something innocent or he has seriously failed as a big brother/parent!! All of you are supposed to be his cute and innocent little brothers/children and he’ll do everything in his power to protect that innocence.

And he wasn’t really trying to be sneaky? He knows his brothers like him tucking them in at night and he has to be there to cuddle anyone who might have had a bad dream or is just scared of something all of a sudden. So he can only get away when they are all asleep then he has to be there in the morning to make sure everyone gets to breakfast on time and so on... It’s hard being a single parent to so many children.... Mikazuki, please come help, thanks!]

The way I look at him...?

[Does that mean the whole citadel knows?? He is, of course, not ashamed of his relationship. Far from it but, but, the thought that anyone can tell just how in love he is from the way he looks is so absolutely mortifying embarrassing!]

Ah, no, Gokotai! It’s all right. I’m not mad at you. [He gives him a big hug.] I’m not angry at all. I’m just... so embarrassed...

[He tries to laugh it off. Though it would have been nice if someone had just bloody told him so that he didn’t have to live in anguish for so long!! But he kind of understands why didn’t tell him... Well, what’s done is done and it all ended well so...]

[toranogohiki]

[.... Pretty much the whole Citadel knows, yes. It's not like Mikazuki-san himself makes a mystery of it after all. And there were many who had been around them back then and remembered.]

I-Ichi-nii, there's nothing to be embarrassed about.

[They're all rooting for you! That hug is nice, though.]

I-t's good that you found him again.

[oncealifetime]

[Just going to hug Gokotai a little more before letting go then he smiles gratefully.

Thank you, Gokotai. So... what do think about having another big brother?